Performance Days Fair's special topic inspired by nature

13 Feb '20

4 min read

Pic: Performance Days

A special focus topic for Munich's Performance Days Fair, for functional fabrics and accessories, has been prepared for April this year. The Performance Forum will not only be highlighting sustainable fabrics, the focus for the summer 2022 season will be on fabrics that enable functions by means of fibres and treatments inspired by nature.

The worldwide functional textile industry got a wake-up call when Performance Days introduced a major change in Munich last November. Ever since that fair, consistent rules have applied to the fabrics exhibited at the groundbreaking Performance Forum. Effective at the end of 2019, these fabrics must not only provide a functional added value but must also meet strict criteria with regard to sustainability. In this way, the 240 most important fabrics at the fair every season can truly be described as real highlights in terms of function, fashion and sustainability.

By implementing these strict selection criteria, the trade fair has underlined its consistent stance on sustainability. The trade fair organisers are convinced that working and producing sustainably must become the new industry standard.

At the upcoming trade fair in Munich on April 22-23rd, Performance Days will raise the bar once again in terms of sustainability for the fabrics of summer 2022. The new Focus Topic reads: "Inspired by nature -from fibres to green treatments". This means that all 24 fabrics that earn a coveted place on the focus topic wall must achieve their function via a natural and environmentally friendly approach.

The fair always tries to show which sustainable alternatives are also feasible for functional textiles. After all, there are already a number of functional attributes on the market that can be achieved on a natural basis, for example, using natural fibres or treatments. "As a leading trade fair, we succeed in being the incubator for the industry by bringing new and, in some cases, previously unknown themes to the forefront every season. Motivated by our ideas, the exhibitors produce incredible innovation and that makes us proud," Lena Weimer, senior marketing manager, said in a press release.

At the upcoming Performance Forum, fabrics will be presented that offer functions such as climate and temperature management, moisture transport, water repellency or waterproofing, UV-protection, and odour control based on natural processes. Others provide improvement for the athlete's general performance or an increase in comfort.

The innovations exhibited at the April fair underscore the idea that the best functions can be achieved without harmful chemicals. A few years ago, functional fabrics came under criticism because, among other things, the waterproofing treatments were manufactured on the basis of harmful chemicals. And, although the industry has mastered this challenge, there are still a number of other areas which can do without chemicals or synthetic fibres made from crude oil.

Sustainability and, in particular, the current focus topic is very important to the suppliers of functional fibres, fabrics, and accessories. This is evidenced once again by the significant increase in interest shown by the exhibitors at Performance Days. The April 2020 fair was already completely sold out at the end of last year, and reservations for the fair were already made during the November fair. Again, more than 290 of the most important exhibitors in the field of textile function and sustainability will present their latest innovations in hall C1, occupied to full capacity, at the Messe München on April 22-23rd. "We are pleased and proud of the great demand from exhibitors. Important functional brands and sustainability pioneers such as Sympatex, PrimaLoft, Pontetorto, and Schoeller - some of whom have been with us since the first PERFORMANCE DAYS trade fair - will be exhibiting again this spring. We are striving to create an interesting and relevant mix of old and new exhibitors who can introduce groundbreaking innovations in relation to our current Focus Topic. We are becoming more international with each fair," senior project manager, Lisa Lechner said in the release.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (JL)

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