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

摘要

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.