Comprehensive Snapshot for Cooling Fabrics Market Research Report, Including Regional and Country Analysis in Brief.
Industry: Consumer Goods
Delivery Timelines: Please Contact Sales
Published Date: May-2025
Format: PPT*, PDF, EXCEL
Number of Pages: 198
ID: PMRREP35319
The global cooling fabrics market size is anticipated to rise from US$ 2.6 Bn in 2025 to US$ 4.5 Bn by 2032. It is projected to witness a CAGR of 8.1% from 2025 to 2032. According to the Persistence Market Research report, as temperatures rise globally, industries are transforming from sportswear to workwear and healthcare. These innovative textiles designed to regulate body temperature and enhance comfort are becoming essential in everyday clothing. With sustainability and advanced technology at the forefront cooling fabrics are revolutionizing the fabric experience in both performance and casual wear.
Key Industry Highlights
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Global Market Attribute |
Key Insights |
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Cooling Fabrics Market Size (2025E) |
US$ 2.6 Bn |
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Market Value Forecast (2032F) |
US$ 4.5 Bn |
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Projected Growth (CAGR 2025 to 2032) |
8.1% |
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Historical Market Growth (CAGR 2019 to 2024) |
7.7% |
There has been a notable surge in the demand for performance-enhancing clothing, particularly in the sportswear and activewear categories. Today’s busy consumers prioritize comfort over style and apparel that enhances comfort, supports moisture management, and regulates body temperature during intense physical exertion and various outdoor activities. One-third of new sportswear collections globally now feature cooling or temperature-regulating fabric technologies. Athleisure accounted for 28% of total active apparel launches globally, emphasizing moisture-wicking fabrics.
Cooling fabrics have emerged as an ideal solution, offering breathability, sweat-wicking properties, and a refreshing feel even in extreme conditions. The rapid growth of athleisure fashion and outdoor recreational trends has further fueled demand, pushing brands to consistently innovate and introduce advanced cooling techniques in apparels. Columbia's Omni-Freeze Zero fabric revolutionized activewear by transforming sweat into a cooling agent. The fabric features polymer rings that swell upon contact with moisture, creating a prolonged cooling sensation. This innovation enhances comfort for athletes and outdoor enthusiasts in hot and humid conditions.
Despite significant advancements in cooling fabric technologies, the production of high-performance materials that regulate body temperature while maintaining durability remains a major challenge. Fabrics incorporating materials such as graphene, far infrared, and advanced synthetic fibers offer superior cooling properties but are expensive and difficult to manufacture on a large scale. These materials also face supply limitations, which further complicates mass production. Additionally, achieving a balance between long-term performance, comfort, and breathability is a persistent issue. As demand for cooling fabrics increases, manufacturers must address these challenges to ensure cost-effective, high-quality products that meet the evolving needs of consumers in the activewear and sportswear markets.
As environmental concerns continue to rise, consumers are increasingly prioritizing sustainability in their purchasing decisions. This shift in consumer behavior has led to a growing demand for fabrics made from renewable, eco-friendly materials such as organic cotton, bamboo, and recycled fibers. Wazoodle offers a range of cooling fabrics under their ProECO® line, including options made from bamboo and organic cotton. These fabrics are designed to provide comfort and breathability, catering to the increasing demand for eco-friendly textiles.
Sportingtex introduced eco-friendly bamboo fiber fabrics that combine sustainability with performance. These fabrics are made from natural bamboo cellulose, offering benefits such as moisture-wicking, breathability, and natural antibacterial properties. This trend presents a unique opportunity for cooling fabrics manufacturers to create innovative products that combine high performance with sustainable production. By incorporating these materials into their fabrics, brands can meet the needs of environmentally conscious consumers, particularly in the athleisure, activewear, and outdoor apparel segments. Embracing sustainability not only appeals to a larger audience but also offers companies a significant competitive advantage in the cooling fabrics market.
The adoption of cooling fabrics is rapidly growing across both industrial workwear and military apparel segments. Industries such as construction, oil and gas, and manufacturing prefer cooling-enabled garments, including vests and lightweight protective clothing to safeguard workers from extreme heat and improve productivity. Techniche launched HyperKewl™ Cooling Vest which uses advanced evaporative cooling fabric to provide up to 10 hours of relief in extreme heat. Ideal for construction and manufacturing workers, it enhances safety and comfort while maintaining mobility in hot working environments.
With rising global temperatures and stricter workplace safety standards, demand for advanced, breathable, and moisture-wicking workwear is gaining momentum, particularly in Asia Pacific.
Simultaneously, military forces are enhancing soldier gear by integrating thermoregulating and moisture-wicking fabrics. The U.S. Army’s ECWCS Gen III uniform system, enhanced, features integrated moisture-wicking and thermoregulating layers. Tailored for deployment in various climates it supports soldier endurance and health, especially in high-temperature and desert operations.
Polartec® introduced its Delta™ cooling base layers for military forces. Engineered to optimize airflow and sweat dispersal, these garments help regulate temperature during intense missions. As deployments increase in tropical regions, the military’s shift toward advanced cooling textiles reflects a broader strategic focus on health, endurance, and tactical success. These parallel trends are significantly shaping the future landscape of the cooling fabrics market.
Polyester and its blends are integral to the cooling fabrics, valued for their durability, moisture-wicking properties, and ability to maintain shape over time. As a synthetic fiber, polyester excels in managing heat and moisture, providing enhanced comfort during physical activities. When blended with fibers like cotton or nylon, polyester boosts the cooling effect, improving overall performance and wearability. These blends are increasingly used in sportswear, activewear, and outdoor apparel, meeting the rising consumer demand for functional, high-performance fabrics. Polyester’s versatility, coupled with its cost-effectiveness, ensures its continued dominance in the global industry.
Teijin Frontier developed a next-generation comfort material combining TRIPLEDRY™ CARAT™, a specially structured polyester fabric that combines perspiration absorption functionality and sweat adhesion prevention, with WAVERON, a full dull, non-crimped yarn with contact cooling functionality. The new material uses 100% recycled polyester and features water-repellent technology made without per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances.
Sports and Fitness is one of the key segment fueling the growth. Cooling fabrics, which offer moisture-wicking, breathability, and temperature control, are becoming essential for maintaining comfort during exercise and in extreme weather conditions. The rise in popularity of sports, fitness, and outdoor activities, with consumers seeking products that provide superior comfort, performance, and durability, is augmenting the market demand. In 2023, the global number of fitness club members was over 200 million.
As athletes and outdoor enthusiasts engage in intense physical activities, they increasingly seek apparel that helps regulate body temperature and enhances performance. The sports and fitness segment, therefore, presents a significant growth opportunity for cooling fabric manufacturers.
The rapid rise in popularity of athleisure wear in North America is creating a strong demand for cooling fabrics. 55% of U.S. consumers report wearing athleisure for home relaxing and exercising.
As consumers prioritize comfort and performance in their clothing, athleisure has emerged as a dominant fashion trend. Cooling fabrics are being incorporated into athleisure garments to meet the needs of consumers who seek breathable, moisture-wicking, and temperature-regulating apparel. This trend is particularly prominent in fitness-focused individuals and those engaged in outdoor activities. 88% of U.S. adults consider access to fitness facilities important for achieving their health and fitness goals, with 61% rating it as very important. In 2023, approximately 70.8 million youth athletes in the U.S. participated in team sports.
The ability of cooling fabrics to offer enhanced performance while maintaining style drives high adoption, especially in regions with high temperatures and busy lifestyles.
In Europe, the growing emphasis on sustainability is reshaping the fashion and textile industries, driving the demand for eco-friendly cooling fabrics. As environmental concerns gain more traction, consumers are prioritizing clothing that is both functional and made from renewable materials. Starting in 2024, Europe has mandated textiles industry to cover at least 50% recycled materials, with 20% prepared for reuse, and 75% recycled content by 2029.
European brands are incorporating advanced cooling technologies into sustainable fabrics, which not only enhance comfort but also meet need for eco-conscious choices. The shift towards greener alternatives is pushing manufacturers to innovate, ensuring that cooling fabrics maintain high performance while reducing their environmental impact. This movement is especially prevalent in outdoor and active wear, which are key markets for cooling fabrics.
Rising temperatures and increasing awareness about heat-related health issues drive significant demand for cooling fabrics in work wear and healthcare applications in the Asia Pacific. With industries such as construction, manufacturing, and healthcare facing extreme heat conditions, there is a growing need for fabrics that regulate body temperature and improve comfort. For instance, Migrant workers in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE face extreme working conditions, including exposure to temperatures exceeding 45°C and working up to 14-hour shifts. Cooling fabrics provide essential benefits such as moisture-wicking, breathability, and temperature control, helping workers maintain productivity in hot environments.
In healthcare, these fabrics can help prevent heat stress and improve patient comfort. As climate conditions continue to rise, the adoption of cooling fabrics in these sectors is expected to increase.
The global cooling fabrics market is characterized by a mix of established players and emerging innovators. Key market participants are focusing on product innovation, such as integrating advanced cooling technologies and sustainable materials into fabrics. Companies are leveraging strategic partnerships, research, and development to enhance fabric performance, breathability, and temperature regulation.
Competitive differentiation is also driven by customization options for various applications, such as sports, healthcare, and industrial wear. Furthermore, regional expansion and the increasing demand for eco-friendly products are shaping competition, with brands striving to meet evolving consumer preferences for both performance and sustainability.
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Report Attribute |
Details |
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Historical Data/Actuals |
2019 - 2024 |
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Forecast Period |
2025 - 2032 |
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Market Analysis Units |
Value: US$ Bn/Mn, Volume: As applicable |
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Geographical Coverage |
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Segmental Coverage |
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Competitive Analysis |
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Report Highlights |
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Customization and Pricing |
Available upon request |
By Material Type
By Application
By Distribution Channel
By Region
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The global cooling fabrics market is projected to value at 2.6 bn in 2025.
The cooling fabrics market is driven by increasing consumer demand for breathable, moisture-wicking, and temperature-regulating fabrics in sportswear and active wear boosts market growth.
The cooling fabrics market is poised to witness a CAGR of 8.1% between 2025 and 2032.
Growing demand for eco-friendly and sustainable textiles is the key market opportunity.
Major players in the cooling fabrics market include Coolcore, Nan Ya Plastics Corporation, Ahlstrom, Formosa Taffeta Co. Ltd., Asahi Kasei Corporation, Toyobo Co. Ltd., and others.
