Beyond physical construction, sensory-friendly clothing sometimes employs non-toxic dyes and chemicals that are gentle for all skin types.

Julia DeNey founded Sense-ational You after working in special education in autism classrooms with students who struggled with sensory processing. “From their clothes, to noise, to being unable to calm their bodies down, sensory dysregulation and discomfort would greatly affect their education, happiness, and ability to participate in activities they love,” she said.

Sense-ational You’s best-selling Sound-Reducing Sensory Hoodie has a special material sewn into the hood to help reduce noise and an eye mask that can be flipped back or pulled down when a full sensory break is needed. Many who struggle with sound sensitivity dislike the feeling of headphones. Magnetic closures increase independence in children and adults with fine motor skills. The Compression-Lined T-Shirt works much like a compression or weighted vest, providing calming proprioceptive input to the body. It can be layered under a t-shirt and is fully adjustable to tighten to any level of sensory input required. “I like to be able to have offerings for sensory seekers and sensory avoiders so everyone can find something that meets their sensory needs and keeps them regulated and comfortable,” noted DeNey.

While sensory-friendly garments were originally designed with the needs of individuals with autism, ADHD, or sensory processing disorders in mind, the appeal of sensory-friendly clothing has broadened significantly to  anyone seeking extra comfort. This can include people with eczema, sensitive skin, or those undergoing medical treatments like chemotherapy which can make the skin more sensitive.

“We’re definitely seeing a shift towards comfort in the consumer market, particularly as awareness of sensory sensitivities increases,” explained SAM sensory & more Founder An Luyten, adding, “this trend isn’t just about physical comfort — it’s also about creating an environment where people feel mentally at ease and underscores the importance of considering sensory needs in design, not just for those with pronounced sensitivities, but for everyone seeking comfort in their everyday lives.”

As a highly sensitive individual, wearing SAM products helps Luyten “regulate my sensory experiences, but also enjoy daily activities with greater comfort and less stress.” She developed the line to help her son feel at ease, while still looking great. In designing, Luyten avoids anything that can cause irritation, as well as rough textures and tight elastic bands. SAM Seamless Bamboo Socks are super-soft with breathability and anti-bacterial properties. Meanwhile, SAM Trousers use soft, stretchable fabrics that conform comfortably to the body without restricting movement, making them ideal for everyday wear. No harsh fabrics, rough seams or tight waistbands here.

Putting Fabrics to the Test

“We have seen an increase of Lenzing fibers across all ‘soft’ categories: intimates, pajamas, athleisure, toweling, sheeting, footwear lining/uppers, and children’s/babies,” said Sharon Pérez, senior manager of business development at Lenzing. The firm’s internal consumer data shows that touch and feel are among the top qualities consumers look for when shopping for soft textiles.

As Pérez steadily receives interest from designers and material developers for adults, “we have also seen an increase in interest in comfortable and soft fabrics for children.” While historically, TENCEL Lyocell and Modal have been a staple in women’s tops, women’s intimates, and denim; “we are seeing products with our fibers for men’s underwear, performance socks, performance tops and bottoms, outerwear and eveningwear/special occasion,” commented Pérez.

At the recent Spring Functional Fabric Fair in Portland, OR; a seminar entitled “Measuring and Marketing Comfort – A Brand’s Journey” detailed underwear brand SAXX embarking on a Skin Sensorial Assessment with German testing and research firm Hohenstein. In the testing, a unique set of five tests quantifies the feel/perception when a garment is worn. The tests are correlated with controlled wear trials in climate chambers and are representative for about 80-90% of the population. For SAXX, some of the ten underwear fabrics tested showed “wet cling,” meaning the surface was too smooth and adhered to the skin with perspiration. “By utilizing these tests, SAXX was able to identify the most comfortable materials — at the fabric level of product development. So, there was no need to make a garment and do wear trials to get consumer feedback. This saved them a lot of time and money,” explained Dr. Jan Beringer, Senior Scientific Expert at Hohenstein.

The Hohenstein Skin Sensorial Assessment promotes efficient product development. Brands save time and costly product modifications and iterations at the garment level. While brands often do a “hand feel” assessment, “hand feel is not comparable to the skin sensorial perception because our fingertips are way less sensitive than the rest of our skin,” Beringer noted.