In recent years, with the rapid increase in female participation in sports, professional sports bras have almost become a necessity for women pursuing healthy exercise, and have emerged as a highly notable new segment in the sports market.High-tech, wearable, intelligenthave become key terms for many brands aiming to break into the female sports market.
As one of Asia’s leading high-end seamless sports bra technology providers, Tengfei Technology has long positioned itself in this current hot market segment. Driven by technology and innovation, Mr. Chen Jingwei, General Manager of Tengfei’s Functional & Intelligent Sports Division, recently stated in an interview with ISPO that he is very optimistic about the future of China’s broader sports market and its segmented areas.
To achieve differentiation and win through professionalism and technological application, Tengfei collaborates with Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology and top domestic sports universities to conduct specialized ergonomic and mechanical research tailored to various sports scenarios. Using patented materials, patented 3D printing technology, innovative design, and electronic hardware monitoring and sensing technologies, they develop tight-fitting functional sportswear and smart sports equipment for physiological monitoring, ushering in an era of data visualization in sports.
While participating in the concurrentISPO Beijing 2018th (January 24–27, Beijing National Convention Center)China Sports Fashion Trends Forum,Tengfei will stand at the forefront of fashion alongside over 200 industry elites including designers, brand product managers, and research experts, to forecast innovations and changes in the future of sports fashion.
High-tech sets off another wave—sports bras enter a safe “light” era
What qualities should a good sports bra have? Good breathability, moderate pressure elasticity, quick-drying, moisture-wicking—all of these are labels commonly boasted by most functional bras on the market, yet their actual quality and technical content vary widely.
In terms of fabric composition, ordinary bras often use cotton, linen fibers, and more lace, focusing on comfort and aesthetics. In contrast, sports bras mainly use nylon, polyester, and spandex blends, offering better durability and a tighter texture to secure the chest and prevent ligament strain from excessive movement. Considering moisture absorption and sweat-wicking needs during exercise, some composite fabrics are also used—for example, the inner skin-contact layer is knitted cotton for sweat absorption, while the outer layer is polyester or other synthetic fabrics for better sweat release.
A US breast cancer research report indicates thatwearing sponge-molded cup bras can cause chronic harm to breast health.According to Mr. Chen Jingwei, Tengfei Technology’s currently held and appliedpatented biomimetic honeycomb technologyis a revolutionary alternative to traditional sponge in sports bras. We all know that during exercise, the human body sweats heavily, and sponges continuously absorb sweat—which actually creates a breeding ground for bacteria. Moreover, after intense workouts, the entire bra becomes wet, increasing the burden of movement. Over time, this is neither hygienic, nor comfortable, nor safe.
The biomimetic honeycomb fiber cup features a layered core structure that is lightweight and breathable at every level. Its breathability is three times that of sponge, and it filters excellently—allowing moisture to pass but not absorbing it, resulting in very fast drying. It also boasts durable properties and excellent resilience, is resistant to oxidation and decomposition, and wears well. At the same performance level, it weighs only 50% of PU sponge, offering no sense of weight and complete freedom of movement during exercise.
The blue ocean of smart sports bras awaits deeper exploration
Smart wearables experienced their first wave of popularity in 2016, quickly spreading from watches, wristbands, glasses, and accessories into the realm of sportswear. According to a Gartner report, smart apparel shipments surged from nearly zero in 2013 and 2014 to 26 million units in 2016, making it one of the largest categories in the smart wearables market.
For smart bras, appearance, function, pricing strategy, sales channels, fan engagement, brand image, and supply chain coordination are all interconnected—touching one affects the whole. Currently, China’s smart bra consumer base is still undeveloped; for many, smart still means technology, not sports. The blue ocean of smart sports bras is ripe for development.
According to public information, several well-known lingerie brands have already ventured into the smart bra space. Internationally, companies ranging from tech giant Intel, Japanese lingerie brand Ravijour, to Victoria’s Secret—who just wrapped up its latest show—have all explored this new product category and released smart bra products. Domestically, veteran lingerie brand Aimer launched its professional sports sub-brand Aimer Sports, followed by its first smart sports bra to capture a share of this emerging market.
The “BodyPlus” (BodyPlus)brand, in collaboration with Tengfei Technology, has developed smart heart rate monitoring apparel capable of recording extensive data throughout exercise such as heart rate, breathing, calories burned, GPS positioning, and more. When speaking to ISPO reporters, General Manager Chen said, “Our smart apparel is currently very advanced both domestically and globally, and we continue to develop many of its functional applications.”
For such sports smart wearables, the most important factors are undoubtedlysports health safety management and the accuracy of data tracking.“Through techniques such as high-temperature molding and laminating encapsulation, we embed smart chip hardware into garments. We apply Germany-imported Stretch 3D printing technology for functional garment biomechanical support, combined with flexible sensors worn on the torso to ensure maximum accuracy, continuity, and integrity of data collection (this product line is also currently under CFDA approval),” said Chen Jingwei.
Unlike conventional limb-worn devices such as sports wristbands and watches that use pressure or optical sensor methods, smart bras apply direct...Monitor conductors, which far surpass the former in terms of data sources and sensor sensitivity. Mr. Chen told ISPO that currently, the best Garmin watches on the market achieve a data accuracy rate of approximately 92%-95% through photoplethysmography scanning. However, as BodyPlus smart underwear — which is applying for CFDA (China Food and Drug Administration) certification to become a Class II medical assistive device — utilizes real-time monitoring and backend algorithms, its ECG data accuracy will reach 100%.
Providing China’s sports industry with the most cutting-edge international sports fashion trends and technical information is also one of the key goals of ISPO Beijing. Through long-term collaboration with internationally renowned trend research institutions, it studies various global trends that impact the textile industry and its products.China Sports Fashion Trends Forumwill once again take place on January 25, 2018, at the Beijing National Convention Center. During the event, renowned UK textile trend consultant Ms. Louisa Smith and France’s leading trend research agency PROMOSTYL willpresent insights and forecasts on color, materials, techniques, and other key areas within the sports fashion industry,and will also officially release: "ISPO Functional Textile Trends & Color Card – 2019/20 AW" and "PROMOSTYL Outdoor Fashion Trends & 2019/20 AW Sports Design Guide." Additionally, we are honored to have representatives from Kunshan Tengfei sharing their experiences and engaging in interactive discussions on site.
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