Cooling Fabrics - Company Evaluation Report, 2025

The Cooling Fabrics Companies Quadrant is a comprehensive industry analysis that provides valuable insights into the global market for Cooling Fabrics. This quadrant offers a detailed evaluation of key market players, technological advancements, product innovations, and industry trends. The 360 Quadrants evaluated over 107 companies, of which the Top 16 Cooling Fabrics Companies were categorized and recognized as quadrant leaders.

Cooling fabrics are advanced textiles specifically engineered to enhance thermal comfort by actively managing heat and moisture. These materials function through several innovative mechanisms; some utilize advanced moisture-wicking fibers that rapidly pull sweat away from the skin for quick evaporation, creating a cooling effect. Others embed minerals like jade or titanium dioxide directly into the yarn to conduct heat away from the body. The most sophisticated types incorporate phase-change materials (PCMs), which absorb and store body heat when the wearer is warm and release it when they cool down, providing dynamic temperature regulation.

The primary driver for the cooling fabrics market is the sports and outdoor apparel industry, where athletes and fitness enthusiasts demand high-performance wear that helps regulate body temperature during intense activity. This demand is expanding into everyday fashion and workwear as rising global temperatures and a greater focus on personal comfort and wellness influence consumer choices. The application of these textiles is also growing in sectors like home goods for cooling bed sheets and pillows, medical products for fever management, and industrial personal protective equipment (PPE) to mitigate heat stress for workers.

Despite growing demand, certain challenges limit broader market penetration. The advanced technology and manufacturing processes make cooling fabrics significantly more expensive than conventional textiles, which can be a barrier for cost-conscious consumers. The durability of the cooling properties over the garment's lifespan, especially after repeated washing, can be a concern for some technologies. There can also be a trade-off between achieving a high cooling effect and maintaining other desired fabric qualities like softness, texture, and breathability, presenting an ongoing challenge for textile engineers.

The 360 Quadrant maps the Cooling Fabrics companies based on criteria such as revenue, geographic presence, growth strategies, investments, and sales strategies for the market presence of the Cooling Fabrics quadrant. The top criteria for product footprint evaluation included Type [Natural, Synthetic], Textile Type [Woven, Knitted, Nonwoven], Application [Sports Apparel, Lifestyle Apparel, Protective Clothing, Other Applications].

Key Players:

Major vendors in the Cooling Fabrics market are Coolcore (US), Ahlstrom (Finland), NILIT (Israel), Polartec (US), Nan Ya Plastics Corporation (Taiwan), TexRay Industrial Co., Ltd. (Taiwan), Formosa Taffeta Co., Ltd. (Taiwan), Asahi Kasei Corporation (Japan), Everest Textile Co., Ltd. (Taiwan), Nanotex (US), Burlington (US), LIBOLON (Taiwan), Columbia Sportswear Company (US), Liebaert (Belgium), HeiQ Materials AG (Switzerland), Patagonia (US), and Virus (US). These companies are actively investing in research and development, forming strategic partnerships, and engaging in collaborative initiatives to drive innovation, expand their global footprint, and maintain a competitive edge in this rapidly evolving market.

Top three companies:

Coolcore (US)

Coolcore is a leading US-based innovator in thermoregulating textiles, renowned for its patented, chemical-free cooling fabric technology. The company operates both as a direct-to-consumer brand and, more significantly, as a key technology partner for the global apparel industry. Its core strategy is focused on ingredient branding, embedding its technology into leading sports, workwear, and lifestyle brands. By offering a sustainable, high-performance alternative to chemical treatments, Coolcore solidifies its niche leadership and expands its applications into new textile markets, including medical and home goods.

Ahlstrom (Finland)

Ahlstrom is a global leader in sustainable, fiber-based specialty materials, serving a diverse range of industries from healthcare to transportation and food packaging. The Finnish company produces a vast portfolio of essential products, including advanced filtration media, medical fabrics, and innovative packaging solutions. Ahlstrom's strategy is centered on providing sustainable alternatives to non-renewable materials, driven by innovation in fiber technology. By focusing on high-growth niches like diagnostics and water filtration, and with a strong presence in India, the company reinforces its position as a critical B2B supplier for a more sustainable world.

Nan Ya Plastics Corporation

Nan Ya Plastics Corporation, a core member of Taiwan's Formosa Plastics Group, is a global behemoth in plastics processing, polyester, and electronics materials. Its deeply integrated portfolio includes everything from polyester fibers to the high-tech copper-clad laminates essential for printed circuit boards. Nan Ya's strategy is to leverage its immense scale for cost leadership while advancing its position in high-value electronics materials for AI and automotive applications. The company is also increasingly focused on sustainability by expanding its recycled material offerings, securing its foundational role in global industrial supply chains.