The Scottish textiles sector has an annual turnover of £756 million and currently employs around 9500 people in over 600 companies. At present the UK textiles and clothing sector is worth £10.2 billion, with £3.5 billion from the technical textiles sub-sector. On a global scale, the technical textiles sector is now valued at $126 billion, and is seen to be growing at a rate four times faster than conventional textiles.
The sector has many sporting applications, from innovations in lightweight, breathable or weatherproof materials used in the manufacture of sportswear, to technical textiles in sporting equipment, and the development of smart fabrics. Sports clothing and equipment manufacturers are now using innovative materials from other sectors such as medical technology and the military, to create new sporting products.
A number of recent developments in the use of textiles in sport can be highlighted, including the partnership between Reebok and mc10, a US-based company involved in the development of high performance electronics. The aim of the collaboration is to develop conformal electronics-enabled sportswear and equipment, capable of performance enhancement and athlete monitoring.
Another example is the LZR Racer swimsuit designed by Speedo, with assistance from NASA. The specially designed, lightweight and water repellent full body suit was worn by all but one of the world record breaking swimmers competing at the Beijing Olympics. A number of sports equipment manufacturers, such as Wilson, are also using textiles developed through the use of nanotechnology to produce new, innovative sports equipment.