Technical textiles are also known as engineered products which has definite functionality and durability. This is a fast-growing sub-segment in the apparel market. Taking cognisance of technological advancements, many countries are aligning their industries to accommodate technical textiles. So Technical textile is a potential segment where Bangladesh has the opportunity to explore and expand its business to meet 100 billion export target by 2030. The future growth of Bangladesh’s apparel industry obviously lies in synergies and collaboration across the entire apparel value chain to gain expertise in the technical textile.
Global market size of technical textile
The demand for technical textiles was pegged at USD 165 billion in the year 2018, USD 178.92 billion in 2020, USD 188.81 billion in 2022, USD 197.22 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow the market as USD 208.5 billion by 2024 and USD 222.4 billion in 2025 at a CAGR of 4% from 2018-25, and USD 267.61 billion dollars in 2027and expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.7% from 2023 to 2030. It is estimated that the worldwide demand to reach USD 331.8 billion by 2032. The Asia-Pacific has been leading the technical textiles sector by capturing 40% of the global market, while North America and Western Europe stand at 25% and 22% respectively.
Specialty Fibers for advanced functional properties in technical textile
Technical textiles are manufactured using natural element along with man-made fibers such as Nomex, Kevlar, Spandex, Twaron that can provide advanced functional properties such as higher tenacity, excellent insulation, improved thermal resistance etc.
While regular fibers like natural fibers and synthetic fibers (polyester, viscose, nylon, polypropylene) account for 70% of the total fiber used in technical textiles and remaining 30% is constituted by specialty fibers. The characteristics of special fibers are light weight, longer durability and thermal stability which led the special fibers to an increase in the overall demand for such composite materials. The Global Specialty Fibers market is expected to grow from $ 14.19 Bn in 2017 to reach $ 46.9 Bn by 2026 with a CAGR of 14.2%
Covid 19 major demand for technical textile During pandemic period health and protective clothes got a major demand in the world where these items are sold many times higher than regular price. Protective face mask, hand gloves, personal protective equipment (PPE) for health- care worker and covid 19 surgical gown supplier could manage to gain manifold profit in the sector during the period. So shift from manufacturing the traditional apparel to technical textile apparel or smart apparel is very important and require substantial efforts and effective collaboration among all key sectoral players in Bangladesh.
Kind of Technical textile
1)Agrotech (Agro-textiles) – Textiles used in Agriculture are termed agro textiles. This is used for as technology in agriculture, horticulture, and aquaculture with the aim of improving yield, efficiency, and profitability. It includes protection nets, finishing nets, crop covers, mulch mats, shade nets, and others.
2) Buildtech (Construction Textiles) – Thistextile is used in the construction industry to enhance the performance, durability, and aesthetics of building structures. The buildtech textile items are utilized in various applications such as roofing, cladding, insulation, reinforcement, geotextiles, interior construction, insulations, proofing materials, air conditioning, noise prevention, visual protection, protection against the sun and for building safety.
3) Clothtech (Clothing Textiles) is a kind of technical textiles that includes all textile components that used primarily in footwear clothing. Clothtech has functional properties to the product that can improve specific and critical objectives in the footwear items. This technical textile for clothing applications includes zip fasteners, umbrella cloth, sewing threads, interlinings, labels, elastic narrow fabrics, shoelaces, and others.
4) Geotech (Geo-textiles) – The Geotech is used in the reinforcement of embankments or in constructional work. There are four main categories of geotextiles: woven, non-woven, knitted, and coated. The fabrics in geotextiles are permeable fabrics and are used with soils having the ability to separate, filter, protect or drain. The textile also used civil engineering, earth and road construction, dam engineering. Polypropylene and polyester are used in geotextiles and dry/liquid filtration due to their compatibility. Synthetic fibers like glass, polypropylene and acrylic fibers are used to prevent cracking of concrete, plastic and other building materials.
5) Hometech (Domestic Textiles) Textiles that used inside the home for interior decoration and furniture, carpeting, protection against the sun, cushion materials, fireproofing, pillows, floor and wall coverings, textile reinforced structures/fittings.
6) Indutech (Industrial Textiles) – The textile industry is often divided into three main categories: apparel, home furnishings, and industrial textiles. Apparel textiles are the most well-known type of textile product.
The textiles also used for chemical and electrical applications and textiles related to mechanical engineering. Industrial brushes, paper-making fabrics, filtration products, computer printer ribbon, printed circuit boards, composites, ropes & cordages, coated abrasives, AGM glass battery separators, bolting cloth, cigarette filter nods, drive belts, and conveyor belts.
7) Meditech/Medtex (Medical textiles) The medical disposables like caps, masks and shoe covers are 100% technical textile products made-up from PP spun bond or SMS non-woven fabric. These are commonly used in bandages and sutures (stitching the wounds). surgical dressings, contact lenses, artificial implants, baby diapers, incontinence diapers, sanitary napkins, surgical sutures, surgical disposables, and others. Medical textiles also cover surgical gowns and drapes.
8) Mobiltech (Textiles used in transport) – Mobiltech segment of technical textiles is used in the construction of automobiles, railways, ships, aircraft and space craft. The Mobiltech products can be broadly classified into two categories – Visible components and Concealed components.
The automotive sector has been putting effort to improve the existing market share and making innovative products through research and developments. In the future, technical textiles in the automotive sector are expected to grow with a great profitability.
9) Oekotech or echotech (Environmentally friendly textiles) – This is the textiles that are made from echo-friendly materials and sustainable processes. This includes textiles made from natural fibers, such as cotton, wool, and silk, as well as textiles made from recycled materials.
10) Packtech (Packaging textiles) – The technical textiles that used in packaging and subsequent transportation such as leno bags, wrapping fabric, jute hessian and sacks, soft luggage products, tea bag filter paper, woven sacks, and others are called “Packtech”. Packaging textiles include all textile packing material for industrial, agricultural and other goods.
11) Protech (Protective textiles) – This used to protect against heat and radiation for firefighter clothing, against molten metals for welders, for bulletproof jackets etc. All these things are obtained by usage of technical textiles with high-performance fibers. This textile material includes high altitude clothing, ballistic protective clothing, fire retardant apparel, high visibility clothing, industrial gloves, and others.
12) Sporttech (Sports textiles) – Sporttech indicates the use of textile technology to improve athletic performance, training, analysis, and for all kinds of sports experience such as tents, swimwear, footwear components, sports nets, sleeping bags, hot air balloons, parachute fabrics, artificial turf, sports composites, and others.
In conclusion it could be said that Bangladesh can look into the technical textile to get expertise in this segment and earn foreign currency. Getting technological advancement in the industrial level as well as educational platform should be the number one agenda in the textile sector of Bangladesh.
Note: The source of article is different online publication and analysis.
