Wearable technology in the textile industry: a review from 2001 to 2021

Wearables, also known as e-textiles, are increasingly present in people's lives, integrated with Industry 4.0 technologies. However, there are still gaps concerning their conceptualisation, areas of application, strategic themes, and the researchers and benchmarking countries involved, among other challenges. In this context, this article aims to present an overview of wearable technology for the textile and fashion sector, addressing these questions and providing guidance to researchers and managers. To achieve this, a systematic literature review was conducted over 20 years (2001–2021). The results revealed that wearables are defined by the integration of devices into clothing, providing functionalities primarily related to health. The technologies and strategic themes identified in the review emphasise the development of sensor materials and parameters for data transmission, driving advancements in various applications.