The apparel industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity is driven by rise in e-commerce, data analytics, digitalization, and supply chain management and growing importance of technologies such as integration with blockchain, automation, and virtual reality and augmented reality. In the last three years alone, there have been over 2,600 patents filed and granted in the apparel industry, according to GlobalData’s report on Innovation in apparel: reflective fabrics. Buy the report here.
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However, not all innovations are equal and nor do they follow a constant upward trend. Instead, their evolution takes the form of an S-shaped curve that reflects their typical lifecycle from early emergence to accelerating adoption, before finally stabilizing and reaching maturity.
Identifying where a particular innovation is on this journey, especially those that are in the emerging and accelerating stages, is essential for understanding their current level of adoption and the likely future trajectory and impact they will have.
20+ innovations will shape the apparel industry
According to GlobalData’s Technology Foresights, which plots the S-curve for the apparel industry using innovation intensity models built on over 41,000 patents, there are 20+ innovation areas that will shape the future of the industry.
Within the emerging innovation stage, reflective fabrics and body measurements AI are disruptive technologies that are in the early stages of application and should be tracked closely. Insulated composite fabrics, e-textiles, and personalized lookbooks are some of the accelerating innovation areas, where adoption has been steadily increasing. Among maturing innovation areas are wearable computers and breathable fabrics, which are now well established in the industry.
Innovation S-curve for the apparel industry
Reflective fabrics are a key innovation area in apparel
Reflective fabrics are fabrics with reflective properties, making them more visible in low-light conditions, especially when light is shone on them.
GlobalData’s analysis also uncovers the companies at the forefront of each innovation area and assesses the potential reach and impact of their patenting activity across different applications and geographies. According to GlobalData, there are 60+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established apparel companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of reflective fabrics.
Key players in reflective fabrics – a disruptive innovation in the apparel industry
‘Application diversity’ measures the number of applications identified for each patent. It broadly splits companies into either ‘niche’ or ‘diversified’ innovators.
‘Geographic reach’ refers to the number of countries each patent is registered in. It reflects the breadth of geographic application intended, ranging from ‘global’ to ‘local’.
Patent volumes related to reflective fabrics
Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics
Teijin is one of the leading patent filers in reflective fabrics. Some other key patent filers in the space include DuPont and Toray.
DuPont™ Tyvek® 500 HV comes in a fluorescent orange color with silver-grey reflective bands for day and night visibility. The garment is mainly composed of flash-spun polyethylene, providing an ideal balance of protection, durability, and comfort to the user.
In terms of application diversity, Welspun leads the pack, while Mitsubishi Gas Chemical and NIKE stood in the second and third positions, respectively.
By means of geographic reach, Welspun held the top position, followed by Mitsubishi Gas Chemical and Albany International.
Reflective fabrics have promising applications in the future as research and development in this space progresses with increasing awareness for safety and evolving fashion trends. These fabrics are typically used in clothing and accessories such as helmets and armband vests that provide safety to the user during fog and other low visibility conditions.
To further understand the key themes and technologies disrupting the apparel industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research report on Apparel.
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GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.
GlobalData’s Patent Analytics tracks patent filings and grants from official offices around the world. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
