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It appears that the time has come for protective textiles—a market that can also expect a strong future in the functional textiles industry. As the protective textiles sector is an important segment of the technical textiles industry overall, there is ample evidence supporting this assertion available.
Spending on textiles is based on discretionary income which is impacted by GDP growth. GDP influences per capita income, which is a determinant for spending on items like textiles. Historically, advanced textiles sector’s growth exceeds the GDP growth or at least stands on par with the GDP growth rates.
Market analysis firms, such as Grand View Research, Industry Arc and SNS Insider Pvt. Ltd., estimate the CAGR of protective textiles sector for the period 2024 to 2032 to be between 3.4 to 6.6 percent. The variability could be due to the type of products or segments included in the protective textiles category; however, it is useful to note that the growth rate is on par, or slightly exceeds, the global economic growth estimated by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Expected global growth for 2026 and 2027 is estimated to be 3.3 and 3.2 percent, respectively. Protective textiles growth is double that of the economic growth of the U.S., which arguably has the most powerful defenses worldwide. As expected, economic growth in emerging economies is above that of developed economies and is estimated to be 4.2 and 4.1 in 2026 and 2027, respectively. The growth is fueled by the economies of countries with large populations like India and China.
There is a direct relationship between growth in the economy and that of the technical textiles sector. As a case in point, the IMF estimates India’s economic growth to be 6.4 percent for 2026 and 2027. The Indian technical textiles sector is witnessing double digit growth. As the GDP per capita in India grows, spending on textiles, lifestyle improvement, and hygiene products increases, enabling exponential growth for the advanced textiles industry. Using the growth rate of GDP and per capita income in 2009, I estimated the growth of the Indian nonwovens and technical textiles sector to be in double digits at about 13 percent, currently.
Public visibility
In the past six years since the COVID-19 pandemic, advanced textiles have become more visible and have received increased attention among the public. Personnel protective equipment such as masks, protective gowns, nonwoven head caps and shoe covers are effectively used as barrier material against microbes. High end masks such as N95, R95, KN95 are found to be effective barriers compared with spunmelt nonwovens.
However, the unavailability of such PPEs during the early phase of the pandemic exposed weak links in domestic manufacturing. The dependency on imports in certain PPE items and medical supplies forced the government and industry associations in developed nations to invest in domestic manufacturing and focus on strengthening the supply chains.
In addition to medical emergencies, military interventions and ongoing conflicts in multiple regions of the world have raised the profile of defense and medical textiles. These realities and government support are enabling the growth of the protective textiles industry in developed and developing economies.
Uncertainty, political instability, and conflicts have become normalized in parts of the world. While such events are unsettling, technical textile products, such as protective textiles, are vital in saving lives, protecting territorial integrity and national infrastructure. It is not difficult to comprehend the usefulness of protective textiles in personal protection, but they are also critical in the form of soft and hybrid composites used in manufacturing parts for supersonic stealth fighter planes and bombers.
In the U.S., trade associations like the National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO), and the Advanced Textiles Association (ATA) are actively engaging with federal and state governments to increase the procurement of domestically manufactured goods. The industry associations’ lobbying efforts help with Berry Amendment compliant procurements and have enabled waivers for certain requirements for military textile products under the Defense Procurement Act of 1950.
Defense budgets and advanced textiles
The U.S. is the global leader in defense spending and has been urging NATO partners and its allies to increase their defense budgets in relation to national GDP. In fact, U.S. defense spending is about 60 percent of the defense budget of all NATO nations. The ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, and the recent military intervention in the Middle East, could justify the need to enhance defense recruitment, procurement and research investments.
In fact, the growth of the technical textiles sector is related to defense investments. As the discretionary spending line items in the defense budget increase, the advanced textiles sector will benefit. The sectors that are poised to grow include antiballistic materials, composites, advanced fibers, functional materials, the specialty chemical industry, advanced textile machinery, and testing instrumentation.
According to a recent report from NATO, in 2025 all NATO members allocated at least 2 percent of their GDP for defense. The U.S. is currently investing about 3.2 percent of its GDP for defense. In 2025, among the NATO nations, Poland’s contribution to defense was about 4.5 percent of its GDP. United Kingdom spent about 2.4 percent. NATO nations have agreed that by 2035 their defense allocation would reach a level of 5 percent of their GDP. Of this 5 percent, about 1.5 percent will be towards protecting infrastructure and for civil preparedness.
Given that nations are spending more on defense and emergency preparedness, textile products that contribute improved 1) sensing, 2) shaping, 3) shielding, and 4) sustaining will have tremendous growth opportunity. Among these four segments, technical textiles contribute in a major way towards shielding (protection) and sustaining (decontamination).
Both shielding and sustaining are going through a modernization process focusing on active systems that are highly effective and functional. In this regard, decontamination modernization has resulted in “Hybrid Decon,” for decontaminating toxic chemicals and synthetic opioid particles. Fredericksburg, Va.-based First Line Technology is actively promoting this concept globally. Defense modernization is an opportunity for the protective textiles sector to innovate and consider both disruptive and incremental developments.
An R&D boost
As defense expenditures are increasing, contributions to R&D also increase. The U.S. FY 2026 defense budget has seen increases in personnel and research, development, testing, and evaluation (RDTE) lines, which are positive signals for the manufacturing sector. Normally, in any defense budget, personnel expenditures and procurement are two big ticket items. The R&D line item normally stays flat, or, in times of modernization or conflicts, there is a significant rise in R&D spending.
The recently enacted FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) authorizes $890.6 billion for defense, which is slightly higher than last year’s authorization of $883.7 billion. Interestingly, the FY 2026 enacted level is $8 billion more than the Pentagon’s request, which signals strong bipartisan congressional support for defense.
Among the major line items, personnel and R&D see increases compared to last year. NDAA sees an increase of $1.9 billion for R&D with a total of $145.7 billion. While the procurement has seen a cut of $6.1 billion, major programs such as Air Force F-47 and Navy F/A-XX fighter plane programs have received good support.
This effort is of interest to the advanced materials sector, particularly composites. F-35 stealth planes, which are top of the line in fighter aircrafts, use carbon fiber composites and hybrid composites with metals like tungsten. These advanced fighter systems also have functional coatings such as radar absorbing finishes. The use of fiber-based hybrid composites provides superior strength to weight ratio, corrosion resistance and agility.
Ongoing military interventions and the military spending boosts by NATO countries will result in more orders for defense contractors, such as Lockheed Martin and Boeing, which in turn will support subcontractors that manufacture composites, advanced fibers and functional chemicals. Additionally, those companies that manufacture combat uniforms; parachutes; chemical, biological, and radiological countermeasures; military first aid kits and other products will see a boost in growth.
For example, the German government has signed a contract with Lockheed Martin for thirty-five F-35A stealth bombers boosting the United States’ defense production. Not only governments are committing to buy big ticket items, as the necessity of military textiles and body armors have been recognized. Although Germany has fewer than 200,000 active-duty warfighters, military uniforms that can suit about 500,000 soldiers have been ordered showing that with increase in defense procurement, combat gear and allied items also get a boost.
As there is a commitment from NATO countries to reach 5 percent level in defense spending by 2035, the advanced textiles sector has a tremendous opportunity for strategic growth in manufacturing and investments in R&D. The enhancement will not only focus on defense but also prioritize civilian preparedness. About 1.5 percent of GDP will be directed to preparedness programs, which will give boosts to nonwovens, as well as advanced textile structures.
Products such as deployable fabric structures and awnings; medical assistance products such as stretchers, medical textiles; decontamination kits and wipes will see an increase in demand. ATA’s member companies specializing in the above product lines will have opportunities for production enhancement and investments.
Companies must plan strategically for enhancing manufacturing capabilities, developing functional and highly efficient products. Attention needs to be paid to quality, safety and environmental compliance. The industry is aware of the stringent requirements regarding chemicals like PFAS and PFOS and the industry’s investments in time, technology, and resources—with the support of defense funding—will go a long way in developing dual use alternative liquid repellants and other functional chemistries.
Investments internationally
The Indian government’s major initiative, the National Technical Textiles Mission, is enabling double-digit growth there. Apart from investment subsidies, there is support for market development and research. The government has an ambitious target for 15 percent growth and is investing in the technical textiles industry by creating a national mission, which is to be commended.
In India, among the different segments, indutech (industrial products), protech (professional, technical, and scientific), and geotech areas have received maximum project support, indicating their importance. The Indian government has rightly created a national mission launched in 2020–21 with a total outlay of Rs 1,480 crore (~$164.5 million) where new product development and R&D support are priority items.
Given global emergencies, particularly armed conflicts, it is vital that developed and growing economies invest in defense R&D. Debate is ongoing in multiple governmental bodies to enhance defense budgets, which is evident from recent Prime Minister’s Question Hours in the United Kingdom*. While the defense budget in the U.K. is kept at 3 percent of its GDP for the next five years, there have been calls to enhance it to strengthen national defense. Any incremental increase in a defense budget can result in growth for the advanced textiles sector.
It is unfortunate to witness emergency situations, to be sure, but, as noted, textiles have a role to play in protecting warfighters, keeping territorial integrity, and maintaining safer environments. Government funding is needed to produce next generation high performance fibers for a range of protective markets and applications.
Policy support
Governments in many countries have realized the need to have domestic manufacturing and robust supply of military products. These could include radar and electronic warfare systems; chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threat countermeasures; body armor, and military uniforms. Recently, President Trump signed a waiver to requirements in Section 303 of the Defense Production Act [DPA] of 1950. This timely waiver gives authority to the DPA Title III office to work with the technical textiles sector to identify weak links in the supply chain of military textile items and provide more support with production and speedy procurement. This can be achieved via different mechanisms such as grants, purchase commitments and loans.
Ongoing wars in multiple theaters in eastern Europe and the Middle East will put pressure on the demand for life-saving items, and policy support will strengthen combat operations, as well as support the advanced textiles sector. Such timely acts normally get the support of stakeholders. In the U.S., organizations like the NCTO and the Warrior Protection and Readiness Coalition have welcomed these initiatives.
Such policy initiatives in the U.S. were implemented during COVID-19, strengthening the domestic supply chains for PPE. The government of India’s efforts enabled India to be self-sufficient not only in vaccines, but also in barrier fabrics and PPE. The Indian government brought manufacturers of these lifesaving products to wartime footing by providing funding for supply enhancement, testing and, more importantly, for distribution. Military logistics were used for stockpiling and transportation. It is clear from COVID-19 and current war scenarios that domestic production of protective and medical textiles, and having adequate stockpiles, are related to national security.
The future industry
Protective materials, medical textiles, the functional chemical industry, and high-performance materials including composites are important segments within the advanced textiles sector. Military and medical emergency situations increase the demand for these products, which can produce an exponential spike in growth numbers.
While the commodity textiles sector is influenced by economic factors, segments like protective and medical textiles are immune to economic uncertainty. In general, the advanced textiles sector and nonwovens that cater to defense, healthcare, life-saving products, and environmental protection perform well, even in slow economic growth years. As these products are related to wellness and human health, they are not sensitive to price points. Emergencies and threat scenarios emphasize the need to have robust domestic manufacturing, reliable supply chains and stockpiles.
*Prime Minister’s Questions (widely known as PMQs) is the set-piece of the Parliamentary week. The Prime Minister comes to the House of Commons at noon every Wednesday when Parliament is sitting and answers questions.
Dr. Seshadri Ramkumar is a professor in the Department of Environmental Toxicology and The Institute of Environmental and Human Health, Texas Tech University, and a regular contributor to Textile Technology Source.