Anti-Odour Clothing: Bringing Fresh Appeal to the Textile and Apparel Market

Clothing with anti-odour properties is one of the fastest growing segments of the performance apparel market?reflecting the desire of consumers for hygiene, freshness and a general sense of well-being. Moreover, in certain apparel categories?including sportswear, underwear, socks and footwear linings?antimicrobial finishing is rapidly becoming a standard treatment.

Most anti-odour technologies for clothing are based on chemical treatments or the presence of silver, which has inherent antibacterial properties. However, the use of natural anti-odour materials, such as bamboo fibre, is rising at the expense of more established technologies, reflecting growing demand among consumers for eco-friendly products.

Over the past five years, new technologies have emerged which hold the promise of delivering more effective protection against odour in clothing. In particular, advances in nanotechnology have led to the introduction of fabrics containing silver nanoparticles, and these are penetrating the market rapidly. Such fabrics have been widely embraced by sportswear manufacturers although environmentalists have raised concerns about their effects on the environment and human health.

Amid these concerns, researchers and scientists are stepping up efforts to devise a method of producing self-cleaning apparel which would eliminate the need for laundering and antimicrobial finishing. However, it is likely to take some time before such apparel reaches mainstream consumers.

In the meantime, as anti-odour clothing is regarded as a luxury rather than a necessity, the market may struggle to grow over the next two or three years as a result of the economic slump.

Anti-Odour Clothing: Bringing Fresh Appeal to the Textile and Apparel Market

• Summary
• Introduction
• Types and Sources of Odour Found in Clothing
• Effects of Micro-Organisms on Human Health
• Effects of Micro-Organisms on Fabrics
• Techniques for Avoiding or Eliminating Odour in Clothing
• Methods of Imparting Antimicrobial Properties to Fabrics
• Antimicrobial Agents Used in Textiles and Clothing
• Requirements for Antimicrobial Agents Used in Clothing
• Antimicrobial Efficacy Testing and Regulation
• Safety and Environmental Issues Associated with Antimicrobial Agents
• Markets for Anti-Odour Fabrics
• Key Producers of Antimicrobial Agents
• Key Producers of Antimicrobial Fibres
• Self-Cleaning Clothes
• Outlook

To read the full report buy issue 140 now	Subscribe

• Performance apparel markets: profile of Delta Galil: a global innovator in underwear, socks and seamless apparel, 4th quarter 2008, (4th quarter 2008)
• Innovations in fibres, textiles, apparel and machinery, November-December 2008, ( November-December 2008)

Six times a year, Textile Outlook International provides up to 200 pages of expert comment and analysis. A subscription provides an overview of the global fibre, textile and apparel industries. It is essential reading for senior executives in the fibre, textile and apparel industries ? and for anyone who is not involved in the industry, but needs to quickly gain an understanding of the key issues.
Reports in Textile Outlook International include:
	country profiles ? providing a comprehensive guide to the textile and clothing industries in a range of countries and regions. The reports include an economic and political profile together with a comprehensive overview of the main issues, plus an outlook for the future.
	company profiles ? giving you the opportunity to learn from strategies employed by others. Companies profiled recently include retailers, manufacturers, innovators and sourcing companies involved in textiles and apparel as well as smaller companies which illustrate the opportunities for firms which are interested in selected sourcing locations.
	trends in world textile and apparel trade and production ? taking into account current issues facing the industry ? such as global fibre prices; competition from China and other low cost countries; the elimination of quotas and imposition of selective new ones; relocation of production operations; the impact of economic factors affecting trade; international trade agreements; trade promotion agreements (TPAs); and much more.
	trends in EU and US imports of textiles and clothing ? providing comprehensive statistical data and analysis of the top ten supplying countries to the EU and US markets. These reports are updated each year and contain value and volume data as well as average prices and analyses of trends for up to 15 product categories.
	innovations, technological developments, business development opportunities, individual sector analysis and political implications which affect players in the global fibre, textile and apparel industries. Some of the topics which have been covered in recent reports include: new innovations in the textile and clothing industry, such as environmentally friendly textiles, plant based fibres, and developments in textile colorants; innovations in textile machinery; and overviews of the European swimwear, hosiery and lingerie markets.
So whether you are involved in fibres, textiles or clothing ? in manufacturing, spinning, weaving, knitting, sewing, import/export, retailing ? or if you are in education or consultancy or investment or finance, a subscription to Textile Outlook International will tell you what you need to know about the key trends in the industry.
Textile Outlook International is available on subscription ? either in printed format only, or in printed and electronic format. If you choose the printed only option, you will receive 6 printed publications a year, containing a total of 30 reports plus editorials written by Robin Anson, our editorial director and in-house industry expert.
Electronic supplement If you choose the printed and electronic option, you will receive an extra service. You will still receive each issue in printed format, delivered to you by traditional post. In addition, you will be able to download PDF files containing the same information ? but the PDF files will be available immediately on publication, so you don?t have to wait for the printing and mailing. You also have all the benefits of electronic files: instant access even when you are away from the office; convenient storage in your PC or laptop; portability; electronic search facility; and copy/paste facility.