Weavers are involved in developing their sustainable product ranges and the majority say they are satisfied with the number of customers who are returning, like Philip Ong d’Armstrong Knitting Mill, back again after an absence at the last two shows: “We have met some American customers who are very interesting. Scandinavia remains our biggest customer. We are working with some major brands but also with niche firms like Nudie.”
“Despite keen interest on the part of buyers, the market is slow to develop. Efforts to make end consumers more aware are needed so that firms and the major brands incorporate more organic and ecological fabrics in their collections, not just in one-off collections”, emphasises Philip Langer, agent for the weaver Hemp Fortex Industries, which has a large collection with 100% organic cotton needlecord, organic cotton/organic hemp blends or fleece in 55% organic cotton/45% recycled polyester. These were a hit with labels like Patagonia and designers like Studio Jux!
Messe Frankfurt is Germany’s leading trade fair organiser, with 4675 million euros in sales and 1,725 active employees worldwide. The Messe Frankfurt Group has a global network of 28 subsidiaries and approx.
Messe Frankfurt