An Exploration of Parents’ Preference for Young Children's Smart Textile Products

The topic of smart textiles has made substantial progress and garnered great interest. Nevertheless, studies are scarce regarding consumer attitudes and acceptability of these items. There is a lack of consumer studies specifically targeting the market for smart textiles designed for young children. This research seeks to close this disparity by investigating parents’ requirements and criteria when choosing smart fabrics intended for younger children. Surveys were administered to parents who had at least one child under the age of three. A nationwide sample was enlisted, yielding 267 valid responses. The results emphasized that safety is the most important factor for parents, regardless of their demographic characteristics. Parents who had previous exposure to smart textile items placed a higher emphasis on performance rather than pricing, in contrast to parents who did not have such exposure. The study additionally gathered and condensed product concepts and recommendations for subsequent product enhancement.