Domestic apparel original design manufacturer (ODM) Hansae Co., Ltd. has launched an initiative to pioneer the future clothing market targeting the era of humanoids beyond artificial intelligence (AI). Building on its manufacturing and design capabilities developed for clothing for humans, the company aims to secure a new domain: apparel for humanoid robots that are expected to live and work alongside humans in the future.

On June 8, Hansae held a press conference at the Textile Center in Samseong-dong, Seoul, and unveiled “Wear the Future,” the first domestic exhibition of future apparel envisioning the humanoid era. At the event, Vice Chairman Kim Ik-hwan and Director Son Ji-yeon of the Research & Development (R&D) Division gave presentations on the background to humanoid clothing development, design direction, and the potential application of functional materials.

Vice Chairman Kim stated, “Hansae’s DNA is to be the first to try,” adding, “Following the use of three-dimensional (3D) design and AI, the next step was to consider humanoids and robots.” He continued, “Hansae is not a company that makes robots, but if humanoids and robots penetrate our daily lives in the future, we believe Hansae should be the one to make the clothes those robots wear.”

Hansae, together with its affiliate Hansae MK, unveiled humanoid apparel planned and produced jointly by the two companies for the first time at the event. The company presented role-specific clothing concepts for humanoids that assist children in educational settings, support the elderly in care environments, perform tasks at industrial worksites, and interact with people in service spaces.

According to the company, the garments showcased were made with cooling materials that take into account heat generated during extended robot operation, and high-performance fabrics with excellent shape recovery were used to maintain a stable fit in diverse environments. In view of the humanoids’ broad range of motion, three-dimensional patterns were applied to key joint areas such as the shoulders and knees to enable natural movement.

Director Son said, “Robots generate a lot of heat, so cooling materials are important,” adding, “For humans, materials cannot be applied indiscriminately cold, but for robots, a different approach is possible.” She went on to say, “We are combining existing materials in various ways, and this could potentially lead to the development of completely different materials in the future.”

The exhibition also reflects Hansae’s global design capabilities. Hansae operates more than 140 designers across global hubs including Seoul, New York, and Barcelona. Vice Chairman Kim explained, “In the past, buyers decided all the designs and requested production, but now Hansae analyzes market trends and sales data and plays a role in proposing everything from design and color to size.”

Regarding the commercialization timeline for the humanoid apparel market, the company made clear that it remains at an early stage. However, Hansae expects the market could open earlier than anticipated, considering falling robot prices and the pace of technological development. Vice Chairman Kim said, “Some humanoid-type robots manufactured in China have seen their prices fall to the level of USD 20,000,” adding, “I believe that within a few years we could reach a level where there are one or two units in every household.”

Hansae plans to keep both the household and industrial markets in view. Vice Chairman Kim said, “We are considering a wide range of markets, whether households, factories, or industrial environments,” explaining, “The added value that can be generated when robots, which do not need to sleep and require very little rest time, are deployed is significant.” The possibility of collaboration with robotics companies was also mentioned. Director Son said, “Focusing on our New York office, we are working to reach out to various companies that develop humanoid robots and startups seeking to develop related materials,” adding, “We have already sent emails and started conversations with some of them.” Vice Chairman Kim also stated, “We are discussing collaboration possibilities with various companies and will share details once they are concretized.”

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