The global pandemic has led to the inevitable demand for textiles in the market. The textile industry has seen very positive growth throughout the global pandemic since March 2020 and is continuously growing at a remarkable pace. This growth can be attributed to requirements of masks and personal protective equipment (PPE) created because of coronavirus. These have become an essential part of the medical industry and frontline workers as well.
Owing to the prolonged exposure, healthcare workers are catching COVID-19, as the virus can stay on regular masks and PPE for a couple of days. After each use, people have to disinfect masks and PPE before disposing them off in the disposal area in order to stop contamination. The growing demand for face masks has led to research and development activities on technologies that can contain or kill the SARS-COV2 virus present on the fabric.
Apart from the medical industry, other industries are also planning their new normal comebacks in the market. Various apparel companies, bedding companies, and luxury brands have tied up with anti-viral technology providers and launched new brands under anti-viral products.
Recently, Lycra Company, Wilmington, Delaware, and finishes developer, HeiQ, Zurich, Switzerland has entered into a partnership to develop a stretchable, antiviral fabric. The anti-viral fabric is expected to be introduced at the Intertextile show to be held in Shanghai, China in August 2021.
Hospitality and public entertainment industries have been eagerly waiting to implement these anti-viral fabric products for various usage due to their high efficiency in killing COVID-19 viruses as it is more likely for customers to choose places that are safer and equipped with anti-viral fabrics compared to regular places in the coming years.
According to the market intelligence published by BIS Research the anti-viral fabric market is expected to reach $8.76 billion by the end of 2026, witnessing a CAGR of 16.25% during the forecast period, 2021-2026. The market growth is attributed to wide-spread adoption and development of next-generation anti-viral fabric technologies and advancement in the field of advanced materials
Further, China, India, the U.S., and Thailand are the giant manufacturers in the global textile industry and will generate the most demand for anti-viral products in the forecast years. These countries can be a perfect target opportunity for anti-viral technology companies/providers, where they can collaborate with giant textile companies of the global ecosystem and expand their global footprint in the market.
However, several new techniques, such as treatment with nanographene, are expected to create health hazards if they are used in face masks. Various health safety authorities and bodies are raising concerns over the incorporation of anti-microbial nanomaterials with respect to the health of people.
Most of the anti-viral fabric providers have numerous tie-ups with various anti-viral technology providers in order to incorporate anti-viral coating on their brands’ products. HeiQ Materials AG of Switzerland, SG Group of China, and Polygiene of Sweden are some of the key technology providers who have dominated the market by licensing their anti-viral technologies to the textile and fabric manufacturers of the world.
