According to Award-Winning Startup, Loomia - The Next Wave of E-textiles Isn't Where You Think It Will Be

The term e-textile refers to a circuit that is either constructed into a textile or has been specially designed to be integrated into a textile. When asked about e-textiles and their potential future, people tend to associate this emerging field either with wearable technology or the clothing industry. It is true that e-textiles have a rich history of use in wearable technologies, revolutionizing how we interact with designs, clothing, and accessories. Yet, this narrow focus overlooks the broader spectrum of opportunities and applications within the industry. According to data from market reports and industry insights from leading companies, smart fabrics and flexible hybrid electronics hold promise beyond the wearables, permeating various sectors with transformative power. 

The seamless integration of electronic components into a fabric enables various functionalities such as pressure sensing, lighting, heating, data collection and HMI. This variety of functionalities is one of the biggest factors contributing to the spread and expansion across different industries. According to an IDTechEx global market analysis, when one considers the whole spectrum of e-textile products, the application areas and market sectors are extremely broad. The analysis goes on to state that these broad sectors include medical, healthcare, sports, fitness, military, and automotive. In line with this analysis, additional data from market research firms such as MarketResearch and Precedence Research indicate that the e-textile industry is expected to reach USD 6.8 to 11 billion, increasing at a CAGR ranging from 7.90% to 32% between 2023 and 2030. These numbers can be quite striking if one only thinks about clothing-based applications for e-textiles, but make sense when we consider all the ways that flexible electronics (with e-textiles as a subset of this space) can be used. Therefore, it's safe to say with confidence that the upcoming wave of e-textiles is ushering the industry into a new era where e-textiles can join multiple markets.

Regarding this new wave of soft flexible electronics, Loomia, one of the leaders in e-textile technology, reports that non-clothing companies have made the largest investments in their innovative e-textile technology, with the main sectors being DoD, robotics, medical and automotive.  Loomia is a technology company that provides a scalable, multi-axis flex, circuitry solution to companies looking to develop electronics in high-motion areas or across curved surfaces. Loomia references their partnerships with Hyundai for automotive interiors, FESTO for robotics and Hapbee for smart bedding as examples of non-clothing focused uses for these new technologies. In fact, of their over 30+ corporate POCs under their belt, the majority of customers are Fortune 500 companies outside of the apparel space.

 Components made from the Loomia Electronic Layer, a type of e-textile

Another reason why the industry is growing at such a rate could be the environmental aspect. As the global consciousness regarding climate change and carbon footprints increases every day, companies are seeking solutions that minimize environmental impact. E-textiles have become an important figure in this endeavor. 

CO2e results for a range of compared technologies

Initial research shows that certain e-textiles can be the most sustainable form of flexible electronics. Loomia conducted extensive research on the sustainability of their LEL technology and concluded that, of all the solutions compared, the LEL had the least amount of CO2 emissions (CO2e). According to the document, the LEL does not use chemical etchants or precious metals like silver to pattern the circuitry.  These materials have high environmental and/or human health impacts and contribute to significantly higher overall impact for the technologies that rely on them. 

Rendering of various reports and use-case documents developed by the Loomia team

As e-textiles continue to transform various sectors, product developers and designers need to reconsider their approach to flexible electronics for future product and design opportunities. The functional advantages of e-textiles offer numerous design and engineering advantages for products far beyond wearables,which should prompt the developers to think creatively and broadly about the potential and power of this technology. This new wave signifies a new era where sustainability, innovation, and functionality converge. For future developers, embracing e-textiles means exploring new avenues to design products that not only meet consumer needs but also redefine how we interact with technology in our daily lives.