Textiles shape the way we live. They define comfort, identity, safety, and performance in ways that often go unnoticed until they fail. For decades, textile development has been dominated by cycles of trend and consumption, with materials engineered primarily for appearance, cost and speed. But the world has changed. Consumers are asking new questions. Industries are raising expectations. Policymakers are pushing for accountability.

Textiles have evolved far beyond the traditional functions of covering, comfort, and aesthetics. Welcome to the world of functional fabrics: a rapidly expanding class of materials designed with purpose-built properties that redefine the boundaries of apparel.