MAS Holdings, a leader in apparel innovation, recently reached its 100th granted utility patent milestone, marking significant progress in its mission to carve out a piece of the global wearable technology market. Softmatter, as a key contributor to this achievement, continues to drive advancements in human-centric, sustainable wearables. Targeting everything from health and fitness products to medical accessories, MAS is positioning itself as a definitive source for wearable solutions that intuitively enhance user experience—in a global industry expected to grow from USD 70 billion in 2024 to USD 153 billion by 2029, according to MarketsandMarkets.
Speaking to Echelon, Chief Product Officer at Softmatter, Vishwa Aluthge, shared how Softmatter’s goals align with MAS Holdings’ larger vision for innovation. He also explained how MAS Holdings’ legacy provides a foundation for the company to lead in wearable technology.
On MAS Holdings Reaching its 100th Utility Patent Milestone: What does it mean for global innovation?
Reaching 100 granted utility patents is a remarkable achievement, especially considering we were granted our first patent in 2015. MAS applies stringent criteria to determine what and where we claim intellectual property, our fields of play, and, most importantly, each innovation’s scalability and commercial potential. For any organisation to hit this milestone with such selective criteria is a testament to the talent and focus of our team.
This milestone reflects the collective efforts of multiple teams across MAS Holdings, including Softmatter, which played a key role in driving innovation and contributing to this total. What makes this achievement truly significant is that Sri Lankan talent, working in Sri Lanka, develops innovations that are globally recognised and integrated into leading medical and wearable technology solutions.
What inspired Softmatter’s creation, and how does its mission of “Empowering Human Experiences” drive its innovation approach?
MAS has built many core strengths over its 30-year journey. Our next-to-skin product expertise, which values both performance and comfort, gives us a natural transition into leveraging active technologies to enhance those aspects beyond what passive materials can do.
If a fleece jacket keeps you warm, why not have an active technology that offers the same, if not better, comfort from a mid-layer, eliminating bulk and empowering the wearer with more freedom? Also, why not incorporate sensing elements into a comfortable day-to-day base layer for adults that connects them with their remote caregiver or doctor? Softmatter strives to make everyday products more functional and intelligent without sacrificing convenience.
Could you share specific examples of integrating technology into textiles seamlessly, demonstrating its transformative impact?
We have always prioritised robust smart products. Our engineers developed our core platforms of smart materials, conductive interconnections, and encapsulation to be highly durable while also being stretchable, flexible, and miniaturized. Your Softmatter running jacket with light and sensory elements would be equally comfortable in the washer and dryer as other clothes. Similarly, our textile keyboard is resistant to everyday wear and is just as reliable as any other keyboard.
This makes smart apparel and wearables easy to adopt, giving us a great competitive advantage over other products.
As an innovator with three granted patents, how have your contributions aligned with Softmatter’s goal of advancing wearable technology and improving lives?
A patent is only valuable if it can be transformed into a meaningful product or service that benefits humanity. At Softmatter and MAS, we validate our concepts in real-world applications before drafting patents, ensuring that our innovations lead to tangible, scalable products that address real consumer needs and gain market traction. By focusing solely on solutions consumers need—whether they realise it or not—we create greater impact, improving lives and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.
With wearable technology transforming sectors like health, sports, and sustainability, how does MAS Holdings envision driving Sri Lanka’s role as a global leader in textile-integrated technologies?
Rather than competing in industries such as semiconductors and automotive manufacturing—where material resource availability and existing scale present significant barriers—Sri Lanka is well-positioned to lead in smart apparel, accessories, and wearable technology. Our strength lies in engineering talent, innovative design, and material integration, enabling us to create textile-based solutions that are not only technologically advanced but also fashionable, functional, and comfortable for next-to-skin wear.
Could you share how Softmatter’s unique approach to innovation and commercialization sets it apart from other wearable tech manufacturers in the industry?
Our approach ensures our products are robust and last longer despite all the smart technology that is integrated into them. This drives a lot of traction with brands and consumers. Yearly updates further give brands an opportunity to launch differentiated products, even within the same technology family. Finally, MAS’ manufacturing backbone gives our customers scalability with flexibility, be it in a flat knit smart speaker, a narrow woven wristable or a cut and bonded smart bra.
As Softmatter continues to lead in wearable technology, how do these advancements help position Sri Lanka as a global hub for textile-integrated technologies and innovation?
Many smart wearables are still being used in the US and Europe, but their true potential becomes evident in regions such as Asia and Africa. Softmatter and other regional players in this domain are already developing products that can be economically scaled to bring Telehealth, remote monitoring, maternal and neonatal interventions, etc. to populations that need it most. I believe we have the responsibility, talent, and innovative skills to use this technology for the betterment of all. In turn, this will make us a turnkey hub for tech-integrated solutions.