Functional textile is produced by enhancing special properties to various technologies; from functional fiber manufacturing process to functional fabric manufacturing process. In sportwear, for example, it is desirable for functional fiber and functional fabric to be capable of waterproof, good air-ventilation, easy to dry, and having light weight. The other example is in garment clothing; it is desirable to possess properties of comfort for wearing, good appearance, endurance, good sweat permeation, no bad odor, etc. These can now be done by various technologies applicable to introduce a variety of properties; examples of which are nanotechnology, use of technology or plasma, new technology in alteration of features and structures of thread and fabric, as well as use of chemical in finishing process.

          An example of manufacturing functional textile by nanotechnology is that the manufacture of functional fabric from adding bamboo charcoal in nano size to polyester in spining (functional fiber) to enhance antibacterial and odor- absorbing properties.

          Nanotechnology is presently introduced to textile industries in some extent. With its very small molecular sizeone- billionth meter (nano meter), textile entrepreneurs could enhance some of its material properties to clothing such as the addition of stain resistant, crease resistant, flame retardant, anti-bacterial agent, protection from effect of UV Radiation, or self-cleaning, etc. There are used various nano-agents: silver (Ag), zinc oxide (ZnO), titanium dioxide (TiO2), etc.

          A term “Technical Textiles” was defined in 1980 to describe various types of increasing textile products, as well as production technology improved to have technical properties and performances other than appearance or aesthetic characteristics. This term has replaced “industrial textiles” being widely used in USA, whose meaning is too restrictive to explain complexity and variety of rapidly progressive textile products. From international technical textile exposition at Germany in 1985 on, it has been reflected the growth of such textiles. In addition, there has been developed in classification to facilitate in explaining application areas of this new industry, including its marketing.

          Nowadays Technical textiles have been growing rapidly in the world of textile industry. In 1997, technical textiles were used nearly 19% or about 10 billion tons from 53 million tons of world’s functional fiber usage for textile products. Moreover, it is expected of rapid growth every year (Horrocks & Anand, 2000). There are different demands on each group of technical textile. For example, from a research in USA during 1980 to 1990, it was found that the growth of medical functional textile (medtech) products was 11% of all products and would increase about 10% during 1991 to 2000. In Western European countries, usage quantity of non-woven products in 1970 was 3,000 tons and would increase to 19,700 tons in 1994. In Table 1.1 showing manufacturing quantity of world’s technical textiles classified by application area during 1995-2010, it is found that overall quantity increases every year. In table 1.2 showing ranking of volume and value of technical textiles during 1995-2010, it is found that mobiltech (textile for automobile) is likely to grow rapidly. In figure 1.1 showing proportion of world’s technical textile manufacture in 2002, it is found the same trend as in table 1.2.

Technical textiles products are classified into 12 categories, based on existing classification.

1. Agrotech: products in application of agriculture and aquatic animal germination.
2. Buildtech: products in application of buildings and constructions
3. Geotech: products in application of geology and civil engineering material.
4. Indutech: products in application of any industries.
5. Medtech: products in application of medical and health.
6. Mobiltech: products in application of automobile including spaceship.
7. Packtech: products in application of packaging.
8. Protech: products in application of personal and property protection.
9. Sporttech: products in application of sports and entertainment.
10. Hometech: products in application of furniture compositions.
11. Oekotech: products in application of environment.
12. 12. Clothtech: products in application of clothes for completion and beauty.