Pune, India – October 14, 2025 – The global wearable materials market is projected to reach US$ 4,500+ million by 2027, up from US$ 1,732.67 million in 2019, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.5% from 2020 to 2027, according to the latest market research report published by The Insight Partners. The report, titled “Wearable Materials Market Forecast to 2027 – COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis,” provides an in-depth look at the market across types, functions, and applications.

As demand for wearable devices continues to expand across consumer electronics, healthcare, and industrial sectors, the need for high-performance, durable, and biocompatible materials is accelerating. The report identifies silicones, polyurethanes, and fluoroelastomers as key materials driving innovation in the wearable technology landscape.


Surge in Health Awareness and Smart Device Adoption Drives Growth

The rapid proliferation of fitness trackers, smartwatches, medical wearables, and smart textiles has become a cornerstone of personal wellness and remote health monitoring. With a growing global emphasis on preventive healthcare and fitness, consumers are increasingly adopting wearable devices that monitor vital signs such as heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and oxygen levels.

This shift is boosting demand for advanced materials that can not only withstand repeated use and exposure to skin but also support functionality like sensing, data transmission, and thermoregulation.

“Wearable devices are no longer niche products. They're becoming integral tools in personal healthcare, workplace safety, and lifestyle enhancement. This transformation is creating a significant opportunity for the materials science industry,” said a spokesperson for The Insight Partners.


COVID-19: A Catalyst for Medical Wearables

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic served as a major inflection point in the wearable materials market. While the early months of the pandemic saw supply chain disruptions and production delays, the demand for remote monitoring devices surged dramatically.

Wearable devices were widely used to:

  • Track body temperature and respiratory rate

  • Monitor oxygen saturation (SpO2)

  • Detect early COVID-19 symptoms

  • Support telemedicine and remote patient monitoring

This application surge created a growing need for biocompatible, flexible, and reliable materials that can be worn continuously, even by patients with sensitive skin or chronic conditions.


Market Segmentation Highlights

By Type:

  • Silicones emerged as the leading segment due to their skin-friendliness, flexibility, and thermal stability. They are widely used in both consumer and medical wearables.

  • Polyurethanes and fluoroelastomers are increasingly favored for applications requiring chemical resistance, durability, and mechanical strength.

  • The “Others” category includes thermoplastic elastomers, conductive polymers, and hybrid materials gaining traction in niche applications.

By Function:

The report categorizes wearable material functions as:

  • Sensing

  • Energy Harvesting

  • Thermoelectricity

  • Luminescent

  • Warming & Cooling

  • Others

Sensing materials held the dominant share, supporting devices that capture biometric data such as ECG, EEG, motion, and blood pressure. Meanwhile, energy harvesting and thermoelectric materials are growing areas of innovation, particularly in self-powered or battery-less wearables.

By Application:

  • Consumer Electronics held the largest market share in 2019, driven by mainstream adoption of fitness wearables and smartwatches.

  • Medical applications are expanding rapidly as healthcare providers adopt wearable monitors and diagnostic tools.

  • Industrial applications are also on the rise, as companies use wearables to track worker safety, environmental conditions, and physical fatigue in high-risk sectors such as construction, mining, and oil & gas.


Regional Insights: North America Leads, Asia-Pacific Accelerates

  • North America dominated the global wearable materials market in 2019, thanks to a robust consumer base, advanced healthcare infrastructure, and high-tech manufacturing.

  • Asia-Pacific is projected to witness the fastest growth over the forecast period, driven by rising health consciousness, tech innovation, and government support for digital healthcare in countries like China, India, South Korea, and Japan.

  • Europe is seeing strong growth as well, especially in medical and industrial applications of wearables.


Key Industry Players

Major players in the global wearable materials market include:

  • Dow Inc.

  • Wacker Chemie AG

  • Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.

  • Lubrizol Corporation

  • Momentive Performance Materials Inc.

These companies are investing in research and development to create next-generation materials that offer superior flexibility, conductivity, stretchability, and sustainability. Strategic collaborations with OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) of wearable devices are also fueling innovation and competitive differentiation.


Innovation and Future Outlook

The wearable materials market is poised for significant transformation as it converges with developments in nanotechnology, bioelectronics, AI, and 5G connectivity . Some of the major trends on the horizon include:

  • Smart textiles and e-fabrics integrating sensors and circuits directly into clothing

  • Skin-like materials for seamless biocompatibility and user comfort

  • Recyclable and sustainable materials to support eco-friendly electronics

  • AI-integrated wearables requiring high-performance materials for real-time data analytics

"Materials are at the core of the wearable technology ecosystem. The future will demand not just smart devices, but smart materials that are light, flexible, sustainable, and responsive to human physiology," the report states.


About The Insight Partners

The Insight Partners is a one-stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients get solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services. Our expert team specializes in analyzing markets across sectors including Healthcare, Technology, Chemicals, and Consumer Goods.

Also Available in: