Interview with Panos Sofianos
Panos Sofianos
Denim Curator
Munich Fabric Start
Denim Curator
Munich Fabric Start
Transparency, responsible & ethical production Bluezone's focus
Bluezone is Munich Fabric Start's independent concept for the denim and sportswear community. In 2003, Bluezone was launched as a unique concept for the textile sector. Today with 100 denim and sportswear brands, Bluezone is as popular as ever and has now been extended to two halls due to high demand. The international trade fair will be held on September 4-5, 2018. The spotlight of the denim industry shows giants going micro and unknowns turning into big players, chats denim curator, Panos Sofianos in an interview with Fibre2Fashion.
What is the number of denim exhibitors participating in the Bluezone in September 2018? What was the number at the previous one?
The coming Bluezone from 4 to 5 September, 2018, will have the strongest and best line-up since its inception. More than 100 international brands will be presenting their latest denim developments beyond seasons at one of the world's most important denim shows.
Due to high demand, we will use the outdoor space around Bluezone for further exhibition stands, thereby intensifying the business atmosphere on the grounds around the Zenith Hall even further.
The focus is on state-of-the-art, technology-driven process solutions, trendsetting end uses and complex functionalities. All this will come under the heading of Perpetuum Blue, which illustrates the shift within the denim market.
Besides the suppliers of denim and sportswear in the Bluezone, more than 1,000 suppliers will simultaneously present over 1,800 collections in the fabrics, additional and design studios areas at Munich Fabric Start from September 4 to 6.
What is Bluezone's USP? How is it different from other denim fairs like Kingspin?
Bluezone has its own DNA and demonstrates season after season its enormous flexibility and ability to elastically respond to short-term market developments and trends. With its unique ambience and numerous services, it offers the perfect networking and business platform for suppliers and brands.
September 2018 will also see the first Denim Festival taking place - plus spectacular special shows and side events. These will include the highly informative Concept Zone with seasonal trend developments to experience.
What are the significant market tendencies influencing denim growth?
The key theme is currently the return to individual, progressive micro collections. With Perpetuum Blue, Bluezone presents newly-emerging parallel universes of high fashion versus no fashion, futurist versus realistic, individualist versus pluralist. It, thereby, acts as a mirror image of urban lifestyles in search of more individuality and authenticity, always aiming for maximum transparency and sustainable efficiency.
Where are big brands sourcing their denims from? Which regions do denim manufacturers hail from?
The choice of sourcing markets is always strongly geared to the respective target group. This is why the production sites of the MAGREB states and North Africa serve more the moda-pronta orders and merchandise ordered short term, whereas suppliers from Asia primarily serve major producers, multinational brands and chain stores.
Which top three technologies are dominating the denim industry?
Needless to say, the denim industry is also facing major changes. Industry 4.0 and artificial intelligence (AI) are revolutionising production processes, making them more efficient - and in some cases also cheaper - and increasing the chances of individual production processes on demand. Significant innovations can be expected in the field of finishing and dyeing techniques, in particular. Sustainability is key and becoming a matter of course. In addition to the Bluezone themes, we will demonstrate these directions interactively with influential partners and creative start-ups at Keyhouse.
Which regions have become the new hubs for denim fabric sourcing?
The development of markets in Ethiopia and Vietnam is highly exciting. Serious competition is emerging there for the production sites that have dominated this market so far.
What are buyers today looking for in denims?
The demands consumers make of products are generally increasing. They are looking for something special. This certainly justified requirement is also reflected more and more clearly by the denim market. The story-telling aspect of jeans has now become a strong sales point. This includes product performance and the added value of increased functionality in combination with sustainability aspects. As already mentioned above, there is also a revival of small and individual collections and workshops and, hence, a welcome and - certainly also necessary - degree of diversity with the chance of greater individuality.
What is the focus on sustainability at Bluezone? Is any brief given to exhibitors on this?
At Munich Fabric Start, we offer a professional platform for the textile and fashion industry, where the sustainability theme has been presented, highlighted and discussed with the most diverse approaches and from most diverse angles for many years. We welcome and support the increasing development of conscious and environmentally friendly production in the individual stages with great commitment. At Bluezone, transparency, responsible production processes and ethical conduct in production and marketing are, therefore, high on the agenda.
The NextTex Innovations Showcase by Sourcebook x Munich Fabric Start presents companies and innovators in the fields of circular systems, advanced manufacturing, biotech materials and textile interfaces at Keyhouse. FashNerd makes smart products tangible and provides a virtual insight into the wardrobe of tomorrow with exclusive, consumer-ready fashion tech products. ReSource, as a new, comprehensive sustainability concept, reinterprets sustainability in a new and holistic way in its own space in the MOC (Munich Order Centre). With ReSource and the Sustainable Innovations Forum, we offer targeted areas for sustainable product development. In addition, there is also a packed line-up of top-class trend seminars, panel discussions and workshops on offer.
Munich Fabric Start's strong commitment to future textiles is also reflected in the presentation of the HighTex Award, the innovation prize, as an award for outstanding product and process solutions.
What are the opportunities of AI in denim?
AI will change the processes and procedures in the industry. A responsible and very conscious approach is called for here so as to customise the message as well for the people in the companies. However, the revolution of industry by AI offers opportunities for the design of future workflows that cannot yet be fully grasped. AI could make industry more efficient and greener. We will discuss this aspect with leading brands and experts. Not only in the denim segment, but across all products.
The second conference 'patterns X.O' on the first day of the trade fair, 4 September 2018, promises new insights under the headline: Digitalisation of the value chain. The future of the fashion industry.
What are the key trends in denim? What would be your predictions for S/S 19 in terms of fabric composition, finishes, colours, and innovations? What news can we expect at Bluezone in September?
Perpetuum Blue, this season's Bluezone theme stands for the ever-changing business of denim, for the new excitement in denim, coming from different price-levels, new destinations, or "re-invented" destinations.
The spotlight of the denim industry shows giants going micro and unknowns turning into big players. Times and rules are changing. Taking your position for granted is not possible anymore. The denim business seems to have become the art of a non-stop reassessment. All actors have to be one step ahead, aware that anything could endanger their leading position. Who are the new brands/leaders to replace the old "chapter 11" brands? Which innovation, mill, new producer countries, opportunities and more makes the new heroes in trending denim? Perpetuum Blue is the eternal motion, a never-ending process about the evolution of the Blue.
Bluezone will highlight the impossible as the ordinary showcasing the most recent developments of fabrics, fibres, colours, textures, end-uses, functions, properties or processing. With a focus on transparency, sustainability, creative smartness and holistic synergies, Bluezone is the place to experience denim beyond seasons and rediscover a leading path of innovation.
Will Bluezone become larger next year? What are the future plans for Blue Zone and Munich Fabric Start?
We have already expanded in terms of area in the past, always with a view to even sounder specialisation and thematic deepening within the respective segments. We will continue to pursue this strategy in the future. Keyhouse is a vibrant and powerful centre of expertise. Bluezone is one of the world's most important denim and sportswear shows. And with the comprehensive portfolio at the MOC we are providing one of the largest international spectrums in the fields of fabrics and additionals. We are well positioned for future challenges. (HO)
Published on: 13/07/2018
DISCLAIMER: All views and opinions expressed in this column are solely of the interviewee, and they do not reflect in any way the opinion of Fibre2Fashion.com.