Revolutionising how people connect through smart devices, wearable technologies will greatly impact the fashion industry, says a new study by Allied Market Research.
Valued at US$19.6 billion in 2015, the wearable tech market is growing at a compound annual growth rate of 16.2 per cent and is expected to reach $57.7 billion by 2022. The forecast highlights the sector’s potential to boost the overall fashion industry.
The topic will be examined at a Hong Kong seminar on July 11, Wearable Technologies for Future Fashion. Jointly organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and the Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel, the session is part of a series at the 24th Fashion Week for Spring/Summer event, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from July 10 to 13.
Textile machinery agent Chemtax Industrial chairman Dr Raymond Chu will be speaking about Future Knitting with Wearable Technologies.
“Predictions of huge demand in the smart and wearable textile sector will lead to 40 per cent annual growth, worth $2.5 billion by 2021,” he says. “We are likely to see the biggest growth among sports fashion brands.”
Dr Chu says sophisticated sensors, heating elements and even battery chargers will be added to fabrics, using high-tech knitting machines for sport, leisure, the military, hospitals and emergency services.
Such devices will be able to measure a person’s vital signs, such as heart rate, breathing, skin temperature and perspiration levels.
Health benefits
The health benefits of wearable technologies will be highlighted by Dr Roy Cheung, Associate Professor at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, whose talk is titled Modifying the Fingerprint of Gait with Wearable Sensors.
“Sensors in wearable devices could have health benefits, such as rehabilitation for patients with physical impairments and disabilities, and injury prevention for people at risk,” he says. “Advances in technology, including muscle and motion sensors, mean wearable devices will be able to provide increasingly useful data to accurately estimate a person’s biomechanics. We can use the knowledge gained to launch tailored training or prevention.”
Director Stanley Kwok of Senty, which produces knitted grounding products, will discuss The Health Concerns in Wearable Tech.
Addressing the topic Total Quality Assured, Intertek Testing Services Hong Kong VP Jason Ho says all wearable technologies need to be carefully tested to ensure they meet strict manufacturing requirements.
Other seminars spotlight trends, e-tail marketing and testing and certification services for textiles and garments. All seminars are free and buyers can register online to attend.
Under the theme Style in Motion, this year’s Fashion Week will feature about 1100 international exhibitors from 19 countries and regions, including newcomers from Vietnam. Group pavilions include India, Indonesia, Japan, Macau, South Korea and Thailand.
Other highlights include international fashion parades and a networking reception.
