Want to Improve Workers’ Well-Being? Redesign Their Uniforms to Be Smarter
April 9, 2024 – People take uniforms for granted. Whether they’re in the corporate, athletic, educational, healthcare…
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Infrared fabrics have been making waves in the textile industry as one of the most innovative and revolutionary materials to hit the market in recent years. These fabrics, infused with infrared technology, offer a wide range of benefits from increased local circulation to better sleep and enhanced athletic performance. At Hologenix, inventors of CELLIANT® infrared textile technology, we are often asked what the market size of infrared fabrics is and which demographics the tech resonates with. With a growing demand for health and wellness products, infrared fabrics have seen a surge in popularity and continue to be adopted by various industries. In this blog post, we will explore the market trends and potential growth opportunities for the infrared fabric industry.
In the world of textiles, infrared fabrics have emerged as a game-changing innovation. These fabrics are infused with infrared technology, which harnesses the power of infrared light to provide a range of wellness benefits. So, what exactly are infrared fabrics, and what makes them so special?
Infrared fabrics, often referred to as IR fabrics, are made by integrating infrared ingredients or coatings into the fabric during the manufacturing process. CELLIANT, for example, is a blend of natural bioceramic minerals that are added to fibers, yarns and fabrics to create bio-responsive infrared textiles that form the foundation of apparel, upholstery, bedding and other textile-based products. The bioceramics capture body heat and convert it into infrared energy, which is reflected back to the body and absorbed into muscles and tissues. This process results in two physiological benefits: increased local circulation and improved cellular oxygenation.
The increased local circulation and cellular oxygenation that is derived from CELLIANT-powered IR fabrics leads to a cascade of other wellness benefits that enhance performance, speed recovery and promote restful sleep.
Additionally, infrared fabrics are known for their ability to regulate body temperature. By absorbing and reflecting body heat, these fabrics help to keep the wearer cool in hot conditions and warm in cold conditions. This thermoregulation property is especially beneficial for outdoor, sports and athletics enthusiasts, as well as “too hot” or “too cold” sleepers who are looking to enjoy better sleep.
The applications of infrared fabrics extend beyond the realm of sportswear. They are also finding their way into everyday clothing, bedding, home and corporate interiors, and even healthcare products. Infrared fabrics manufacturers and ingredient brands are seeing a rise in demand from various industries, including those in the fashion, wellness and medical spaces.
The market for infrared fabrics is experiencing significant growth and shows no signs of slowing down. One driver of this is the growing global wellness economy, which is predicted to reach $8.5 trillion by 2027. As more people become aware of the physiological benefits that can be derived from infrared fabrics, there is a growing demand for IR fabrics to be incorporated into the products categories that play a key within consumers’ daily routines. These applications are particularly popular within fashion, healthcare, sports and fitness, and bedding products.
Apparel brands are incorporating infrared fabrics into their athletic, fashion and outdoor collections to offer consumers enhanced comfort and wellness benefits. Whether it’s infrared-infused baselayers to boost performance during a workout or cozy IR loungewear that boosts comfort and speeds recovery, these fabrics are becoming a popular choice among consumers who prioritize both aesthetics and wellness.
CELLIANT is a key ingredient in infrared apparel from well-loved apparel brands, such as Duluth Trading Co. The first Duluth x CELLIANT launch featured two styles of men’s boxer briefs along with men and women’s loungewear – some of which quickly sold out due to popularity among customers. Duluth, known in part for their playful brand voice, seamlessly integrated the scientific benefits of CELLIANT into the voice that their customers know and love, demonstrating a successful infrared-powered product launch.
Another trend in the infrared fabrics market is the adoption of these fabrics in the healthcare sector. Infrared fabrics increase local circulation, aid in temperature regulation and promote restful sleep, making it an ideal fit for healthcare textiles such as scrubs, bedding and linens. IR fabrics can also enhance health and wellness products that can be used at home, such as compression socks, diabetic socks, braces and bandages.
Improving health and wellness is central to our mission at CELLIANT. We are proud to be partnered with Medline to incorporate CELLIANT into the Curad Performance Series of infrared ankle, knee, back, shoulder and multipurpose supports.
In the sports and fitness industry, the use of infrared fabrics is on the rise. Athletes and fitness enthusiasts are turning to IR fabrics for their performance-enhancing properties. These fabrics help regulate body temperature during physical activity, helping you stay comfortable during your workout, and speed recovery from physical fatigue, making them ideal for post-workout wear. In addition to sports apparel, IR can be incorporated into wetsuits, kinesiology tape, ski boots, technical socks and more.
In 2023, CELLIANT kicked off our partnership with Decathlon, the largest sporting goods retailer in the world. The first CELLIANT-powered Decathlon product to launch was the Wedze Ski Sock, designed to give winter athletes the performance they expect from Decathlon, plus the power of CELLIANT infrared fibers. We look forward to expanding our partnership with Decathlon in 2024 and beyond.
Infrared fabrics are an ideal fit for sleep and bedding industries. Consumers who struggle to get restorative zzz’s are looking to brands to offer products that can improve their sleep. Infrared fabrics aid in temperature regulation – whether you run hot or cold – and increase comfort, promoting restful sleep so you wake up with more energy. Infrared technology is featured in sleep products ranging from IR recovery pajamas to sheets and bedding to mattresses.
Our partners at Purecare recently expanded their infrared offerings with the CELLIANT Viscose Recovery sheets and pillowcases. This launch followed the success of Purecare’s cotton CELLIANT Recovery bedding collection.
As the demand for health and wellness products continues to rise, the projected growth of the infrared fabrics industry is extremely promising. The unique benefits offered by infrared fabrics, combined with their increasing adoption across various sectors, make them an asset in differentiating textile-based products in a crowded marketplace.
As we noted previously, one of the key factors contributing to the projected growth of the infrared fabrics industry on the consumer front is the expanding wellness market. From a business and supply chain perspective, this growth can also be credited to the fact that the integration of infrared ingredients or coatings into fabrics is becoming more streamlined and efficient. With advancements in manufacturing techniques, brands can easily incorporate infrared technology into their products without compromising on quality or design. The increasing accessibility and ease of production are driving the growth of the infrared fabrics industry, as more brands see the value and are willing to invest in this innovative technology.
At CELLIANT, we work with your brand’s supply chain and product development teams to find the best possible infrared fabric solutions for your products. We are continuously looking to expand our carriers for CELLIANT infrared tech, and currently offer recycled, natural, synthetic and printed offerings, all of which offer your customers the full spectrum of infrared wellness benefits. We consider the brands we work with to be true partners and are fully committed to supporting your infrared innovation journey from inception to sell-through.
The increasing adoption of infrared fabrics across various sectors is a testament to their versatility and effectiveness. As consumers continue to seek out products that incorporate infrared technology, the demand for these fabrics will only continue to grow. In a 2023 study by the Material Innovation Initiative, 92% of participants reported that they open to purchasing next-gen materials (we consider CELLIANT to be a next-gen material, offering high-performance, quality IR solutions to virtually any textile, as well as being animal-free and available in more sustainable carriers.) Partnering with a science-backed infrared ingredient brand like CELLIANT provides ready-made research and development that helps you stay ahead of the curve – plus a track record of successful partnerships with world-class brands – so your brand can focus on what they do best.
The future of infrared fabrics holds endless possibilities for growth, but one area where we see potential for impactful innovation is the crossover between IR fabrics and wearable technology. Consumers seeking autonomy of self-care are taking control of their wellness by monitoring their health metrics through fitness trackers and wearable technology. But, envision a world where one’s products not only measure their body’s data, but also actively improve their health and wellness. CELLIANT IR tech can enhance smart textile products with the ability to boost the wearer’s overall wellbeing. This intersection is where we see synergy between IR textiles and wearables – and what we predict will be the next generation of infrared fabrics.
If you are interested in learning more about how CELLIANT® could differentiate your brands’ products, please fill out the form below to connect with a member of our team.
Infrared fabrics are textiles that have been manufactured to incorporate infrared light in some form. For example, CELLIANT® is a natural blend of bioceramic minerals that is ground into a super fine powder and added to fibers, yarns and fabrics. The resulting infrared fabrics have been demonstrated to provide the user or wearer with the benefits of infrared light.
The key physiological changes that happen when wearing CELLIANT®-powered infrared fabrics are increased local circulation and cellular oxygenation. These changes result in a cascade of health and wellness benefits, including improved overall well-being, increased energy, faster recovery, thermoregulation and more restful sleep.
There are a wide variety of next-gen materials, but the key qualities that define a material as next-gen, as defined by the Material Innovation Initiative, are materials that are high quality, high-performance, sustainable and animal-free.
We do not consider CELLIANT a smart textile, as smart textiles are any textile product that has the ability to be context-aware and connect with other devices and/or the internet. If smart textiles’ primary functional additions (beyond the purely aesthetic) are to monitor the body’s functions, CELLIANT’s primary function is to interact with the body to improve its functioning. That’s why we call CELLIANT a bio-responsive textile.
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