Current Status of Functional Fabric Market
According to a recent survey conducted by the national authority on textile buyers in 12 cities including Shanghai, Nanjing, Ningbo, as well as in parts of Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, buyers have the following situations when selecting fabrics:
Fashion companies prioritize "hand feel and drape" when purchasing fabrics, followed by "price," and finally, the functionality of the fabric. This indicates that in most cases, functionality is not the primary consideration.
2. Fifty-three point seven percent of companies have used functional textiles, indicating that despite the relatively new adoption of functional fabrics, the future outlook remains promising.
When asked about which types of clothing are suitable for functional fabrics, the majority of companies chose "outdoor products," "performance sportswear," and "specialty workwear" as the three main categories. This feedback aligns with the primary uses of functional fabrics.
4. During fabric procurement, companies prioritizing functional features have chosen "wrinkle resistance," "static dissipation," and "waterproof and breathable" properties. Wrinkle resistance enhances wearability and ease of care; static dissipation addresses the inconvenience of static during dry seasons; and waterproof and breathable properties cater to the functional needs of certain leisure, professional sportswear, and outdoor apparel. Underwear and children's clothing emphasize the comfort provided by moisture-wicking and breathable fabric properties. These functional fabrics enhance people's quality of life. For wool fabric functional fabrics, products with directional properties and high technical content include stain-resistant and oil-repellent fabrics treated with low-temperature plasma, anti-pilling fabrics treated with nano-silica sol, protective functional fabrics containing stainless steel and bamboo charcoal fibers offering static and radiation protection, and fabrics with metallic core yarns exhibiting unique pleating, warp directional memory, and radiation resistance.