Market Forecasts and Personal Adoption of Smart Textiles in Fitness Sector

Abstract

The basic concept of smart textiles consists of textile structures that can sense and react to different stimuli from their environment. While forecasts indicate how this sector has the potential to grow in the future, a gap remains for smart textiles to become commercially viable. Growth in consumerism and consumption of services and experiences has led to innovative products that satisfy higher order needs including ideas, sensory and emotional fulfilment, cultural experiences and entertainment. The aim of the paper is to understand smart textiles in this context and to identify factors that influence personal ownership in fitness sector. These will help manufacturers and technologists gain insight into consumer experience and contribute to better design, innovation, marketing and services. The research findings identify important features consumers value in their decision making to purchase a smart top in fitness sector. The results contribute to the field of user adoption in smart textiles and conclude with proposals for the direction of future design and technical development.