Sportswear Technologies: What's New on the Market?

Sport is an integral part of our lives. And although not all sports are equally popular in different countries, this does not change the fact that sport as a socio-cultural phenomenon of modern times occupies a central place all over the world. And of course, modern technologies have a significant impact on sport. Innovations are being introduced at a dizzying pace to meet the ever-changing needs and expectations of both athletes and fans.

Innovations permeate almost all types and aspects of sports, from equipment, inventory, sports nutrition to the operation of sports facilities, the training process itself and the interaction of sports teams with their audience. In this article, we will consider:

• Overview of new technologies and innovations in the sportswear market.
• Advantages of using new technologies.
• Examples of using innovative materials and solutions.
• Prospects for the development of technologies in sportswear.

Review of new technologies and innovations in sportswear.

In modern sports it is impossible to do without the use of new technologies and innovations. Without a doubt, physical exercises are an important part of the training process, but to achieve high results this is no longer enough. The competitive struggle for the championship involves not only coaching staff, doctors, psychologists, nutritionists and scientists, but also businessmen, marketers and engineers who contribute to achieving high sports results.

Their best engineering solutions are immediately "field tested" and put into production, and then introduced to the mass market. Here are some examples of new technologies and innovations that are currently being applied to sportswear, footwear and accessories.

1. Innovations in sportswear.

The North Face, whose products are aimed at climbers, skiers, snowboarders, and tourists, has developed a collection of clothing that emphasizes the spectacularity of halfpipe and slopestyle tricks (a sport discipline in snowboarding competitions).

Under Armour has introduced high-tech clothing that maintains optimal body temperature between warm-up and competition. A special ceramic coating on the inner layer of the equipment allows the air under the clothing to warm up faster and retain heat.

The RECCO® brand, which specializes in rescue technologies, equips ski suits with an avalanche rescue system. In the event of an emergency, sensors built into the clothing allow the athlete's exact location to be quickly determined.

The Pentland Group (specializing in the production and sale of sports shoes and clothing) has introduced a swimming suit that reduces the swimmer's frontal resistance. It would seem that it is only 2% - and it already holds 108 world records.

Ventilation technology. Many sportswear brands use special fabrics that help wick away moisture and allow air to flow between the skin and the environment. Some brands have even developed ventilation technologies that manage sweating based on temperature and workout intensity.

Special coatings and membranes. Leading manufacturers actively use special coatings that provide protection from ultraviolet rays, rain, snow and dirt. Such coatings can be applied to any type of fabric. Breathable membranes are also actively used to effectively protect athletes from wind and precipitation, without disrupting the body's natural thermoregulation.

Special insulation materials of the new generation. A bright representative of the current ones is Thinsulate. The efficiency of the material is explained by the increased density of fibers with their smaller (compared to more traditional insulation materials) size.It is considered the warmest thin insulation for clothing. With the same thickness, it is 1.5 times warmer than down, and about 2 times warmer than other insulating materials.

Compression clothing. Initially, this concept was used only in medicine. To prevent thrombosis in postoperative patients, as well as to reduce congestion and improve blood flow in the veins, doctors prescribed wearing compression stockings. But after conducting a series of experiments and studies, it was concluded that compression underwear can improve performance in various sports. This is how compression clothing appeared:

• rashguards, T-shirts and tank tops;
• pants, leggings or tights;
• underwear and shorts;
• socks and knee-highs.

2. Innovations in sports shoes.

The leaders in this topic are Nike. The company uses 3D printing technologies in the production of sneakers and boots. In addition, the manufacturer has mastered the production of shoes with the HyperAdapt ultra-precise lacing technology, which knows exactly what you need (tighter or looser) in real time.

Adidas has been continuously developing the unique BOOST technology - elastic and soft cushioning - since 2013. Their latest development ULTRA BOOST easily adapts to the individual characteristics of the runner, supporting the feet and providing comfort during long runs. Something similar is offered by Under Armour together with the international chemical company Dow Chemicals. Their new foam and HOVR technology is responsible for cushioning and energy return upon landing. And literally translated it means “to hover over something.”

3. Innovations in sports accessories.

Wearables: Today, many athletes use devices to track their performance during training. Some sportswear manufacturers integrate these devices directly into clothing, which reduces the number of accessories needed and increases ease of use.

Smart glasses are still quite expensive for amateurs, but are already actively used in professional sports. For example, the Recon Jet model is equipped with a microprocessor, HD cameras, wireless interfaces, built-in memory and other "bells and whistles". Very convenient for running, fitness, cycling.

And for professional skiers and snowboarders, masks with two cameras are offered. One monitors the descent route, and the other - the athlete's eye. Smart electronics quickly assess where the athlete is looking, what he is distracted by, and warns in time about possible emergency situations.

A good alternative to a heart rate monitor and sports watches can be the UA-JBL sports headphones from UnderArmour. They measure the pulse during training and provide the athlete with data online.

Advantages of using new technologies.

Sportswear, footwear and accessories have become not only more fashionable but also functional in recent years. Technologies and innovations in this area are developing rapidly. And all in order to give the athlete certain advantages.

First and foremost, performance improvement. Innovations in sports such as smart fabrics, sensors, and wearables can improve balance, flexibility, strength, speed, and endurance. During the training process, the electronics monitor a number of parameters (heart rate, pressure, temperature, measures the distance traveled, speed, time, and then transmits this data to the user's device. This allows you to quickly assess progress and improve your technique.

The second important advantage is - improved functionality. Modern technologies make clothes light. They hold their shape well, but are quite elastic. They correspond to the climatic and weather conditions in which a person will have to train, which means: they remove sweat from the body, have the necessary thermal insulation and can cool at the right time.

Other important benefits include: reduced injury, increased wear resistance and durability, improved style, and reduced maintenance costs for sports equipment.

Examples of the use of innovative materials and solutions.

• Breathable fabric technology. Actively used in all high-intensity sports. Allows the body to breathe while maintaining a comfortable temperature and dryness.
• Using synthetic materials such as polyester to create lightweight and quick-drying sportswear.
• Using compression materials to improve blood circulation and reduce the risk of injury.
• Using temperature regulation technology. For example, ski suits retain body heat well, but do not allow overheating.
• Using antibacterial materials to reduce odor in sportswear.




• Using UV-protective materials in outdoor training clothing.
• Using high-strength nylon materials to create gear that resists stretching and abrasion well.
• Using membranes to protect against wind and precipitation.
• Use of shape memory materials that retain the shape and contour of the body.

These are just a few examples of how innovative materials and solutions can be used in sportswear. Thanks to such technologies, sportswear becomes more functional, comfortable and safe for sports.

Prospects for the development of technologies in sportswear.

The popularization of an active lifestyle and the desire of the population for a healthy lifestyle show that the sportswear market is one of those segments where the growth reserves are far from exhausted. Experts believe that in the next 5 years its volume will increase by 2 times.

In addition, studies confirm that a significant portion of sportswear is purchased not for sports, but for free/active leisure. Therefore, popular sports brands are actively expanding their range of clothing in the lifestyle segment, which combines the functionality of sports equipment and the style of casual clothing.

And thanks to the use of new technologies, modern sportswear has become more convenient, ergonomic, comfortable, productive and safe. Naturally, every self-respecting sports brand tries to participate in the development of new technologies, which can then be patented and used in production. Fierce competition is pushing us towards this. This means that there are many new sports items with superpowers ahead of us.