Advanced knitting technologies for high-performance apparel

The chapter provides substantial evidence to support the importance of the knitting sector to technical and medical applications including performance apparel. It details specific examples of advanced knitted structures used in sport, protection and medical applications. Three potential areas for innovation and growth are discussed including compression, footwear and base-layer technologies which are used in extreme environments. New fibres and knitted technologies have been acknowledged which enable novel knitted solutions to complex challenges to be initiated. Creativity, sustainability, innovation and technology are the key to the new industrial era and advanced knitting technologies will not disappoint in the future providing a range of solutions to user and global challenges using smart materials.