Annual sales of integrated fitness apparel – smart clothing – is set to multiply from around US$1 billion this year to $11 billion in 2025.
Analysis by Juniper Research revealed that explosive growth is likely to see smart clothing become the largest fitness wearable sector in terms of revenue, as traditional consumer wearables are overtaken.
The firm’s report finds that wearables have been diversifying for several years, developing to analyze cadence, exercise form and precise positioning during exercise.
Recent technological innovations delivering personalized health-and-fitness insights have threatened the established position of leading manufacturers such as Fitbit, which continue to emphasize the breadth of features over personalized offerings, to their detriment
Traditionally, subscription models have not been an effective approach to the health and fitness wearables industry, but devices providing coaching and feedback are likely to change this. As the market changes, such additional opportunities in terms of business approach will become more available to vendors, according to Juniper.