Munich Fabric Start
Our Digital Trend Space - Online Now!
OUR DIGITAL TREND SPACE - NOW ONLINE FOR YOU!
Experience the trend, mood and colour worlds for Autumn.Winter 22/23 in our Digital Trend Space which is now live!
Material examples from our international exhibitors, 3D textiles as well as trend videos and video statements from well-known trend experts such as David Shah, Peclers Paris and the ITL Group are waiting for you:
Important tips before you start:
- Open the Digital Trend Space via your computer or laptop in full screen mode and turn on the sound. Your smartphone is less suitable.
- Use CHROME* or FIREFOX* as your browser, Safari does not support this presentation format optimally.
- Play the videos in the Trend Space one by one, stop it before you click on the next video to avoid duplication of the videos.
We recommend watching our short tutorial video as introduction. You can start your individual tour through the DIGITAL TREND SPACE afterwards or at any time.
SAVE THE DATES – NEXT SHOWS
VIEW PREMIUM SELECTION
30/11 – 01/12/2021
MUNICH FABRIC START
25/01 – 27/01/2022
BLUEZONE
25/01 – 26/01/2022
The countdown is on
Only one week to go until MUNICH FABRIC START AW 22/23 & BLUEZONE
The time has come: for months we have been working towards welcoming the textile industry back to a physical show in Munich again. We are all the more grateful to be able to realise MUNICH FABRIC START from 31/08 – 02/09/2021 in the MOC Munich and BLUEZONE from 31/08 – 01/09/2021 on the newly designed Zenith area with an international portfolio of around 1,000 collections.
In keeping with the seasonal title of MUNICH FABRIC START – RISE – you are invited to get inspired, meet long-term partners and finally discover materials live again in their diversity and depth.
“We couldn’t be happier at the moment, because in a few days we will finally bring the textile industry back together in Munich! As organisers, we have literally turned every stone in order to create a safe, creative environment for the industry for efficient work and inspiration. In addition to the high-quality supplier portfolio, we are very proud to be able to offer known and valued services such as free lunch and coffee bars despite the situation, as well as numerous innovations: for example, a newly designed sustainability area ReSOURCE X SUSTAINABLE INNOVATIONS for sourcing of future-oriented materials, an event program with panel discussions and keynotes with international experts and a BLUEZONE with an 80’s atmosphere which is fusioning with the innovation hub KEYHOUSE.”
Sebastian Klinder, Managing Director Munich Fabric Start
Our priority: your health & safety!
We are aware of our great responsibility and have done everything to ensure that the entire event area is Covid-19 compliant. Of course, our extensive hygiene concept meets the official requirements and even goes a few steps further.
Please pay particular attention to the following 3 points for your carefree, safe visit to the trade fair:
COUNTRY ENTRY & EXIT
Please inform yourself proactively about the travel information for your country to and from Germany as well as about the exceptions for trade show visitors.
“3 SCREENING RULES“: TESTED/ RECOVERED / VACCINATED
Please have a valid Covid-19 test, a recovered certificate or a vaccination certificate to hand upon arrival at the show. Compliance with the „3 Screening Rules“ will be checked daily at screening stations.
FFP2 MASK REQUIREMENT
On the entire exhibition grounds, visitors are required to wear a FFP2 mask.
We have summarised further detailed information for you here, e.g. on the validity of the evidence and travel information:
Now online for you: Brand Search, Hall Plans, Trend Book Sale & Event Program
Our new homepage www.munichfabricstart.com offers complete information: Under THE SHOW, you can now use the brand search and detailed hall plans to research all exhibiting suppliers and showcased collections and plan your show visit. Under VISIT you will find helpful tips on travel, parking and hotels.
The new Trend Book presenting the 5 trend topics of MUNICH FABRIC START as well as the 4 denim trend topics of BLUEZONE is already available for purchase online, the Colour Code will also be available soon after the trade show.
The coal bunker on the Zenith area will be a Covid-19 compliant meeting point for live speeches, panel discussions and networking. The complete overview of the trend presentations, expert talks, panel discussions and keynotes can be found in the event program.
Some highlights are:
- Tuesday, 31/08/21, 30am: NEWTOPIA OR DYSTOPIA – How to design and inspire such a polarised world? Keynote by David Shah, Publisher & CEO View Publications
- Tuesday, 31/08/21, 2.00pm: CLOSING THE LOOP – How circular can the supply chain be? Panel discussion with Adriana Galijasevic, Tricia Carey, Shahar Livne and moderator Sabine Kühnl
- Tuesday, 31/08/21, 3.30pm: THE VISION OF A NEW TEXTILES ECONOMY. Mini lecture by Muchaneta Kapfunde, Founding Editor-in-Chief FashNerd.com
- Wednesday, 01/09/21, 10.30am: DIVING INTO THE BLUEZONE DENIM TRENDS. Trend presentation by Tilmann Wröbel, Creative Director & Founder Monsieur-T. Denim Lifestyle Studio
- Wednesday, 01/09/21, 12.00pm: MATERIAL CHALLENGES – How to make fabrics functional, fashionable and sustainable. Innovations panel by Sabine Kühnl, Executive Editor THE SPIN OFF
MUNICH FABRIC START
Tue, 31/08, 9.30am – 6.30pm
Wed, 01/09, 9.30am – 6.30pm
Thu, 02/09, 9.30am – 4.00pm
MOC Munich
Lilienthalallee 40
80939 Munich
BLUEZONE
Tue, 31/08, 9.30am – 6.30pm
Wed, 01/09, 9.30am – 6.30pm
Zenith Area
Lilienthalallee 29
80939 Munich
Germany
SAVE THE DATES – NEXT SHOWS
VIEW PREMIUM SELECTION
30/11 – 01/12/2021
MUNICH FABRIC START
25/01 – 27/01/2022
BLUEZONE
25/01 – 26/01/2022
RISE: Autumn.Winter 22/23
Munich Fabric Start presents the new Autumn.Winter 22/23 seasonal theme: RISE
Autumn.Winter 22/23 welcomes a new world of connectivity. The guiding theme and dedicated focus for the upcoming edition of Munich Fabric Start celebrates and perpetuates the meaningful connection to unite the industry under the seasonal title ‘RISE’.
A reality bound by a global pandemic stirs the industry to reinvent itself once again. New perspectives bring us closer together and give rise to dreams, visions and collections that brighten and uplift our world. Emotion is infused in our future as we seek out joy and comfort with a warmed sense of connection.
Sensitive and in tune with our surroundings, we are in close touch with our haptic senses as we long for connection on many levels. We are reassured by our analog experiences as we explore the feel and the nature of our tactile world. Be it material or emotional, our textiles reflect a kind of lightness, expressing the joy of celebration and party, we let go and are entertained. A collaborative spirit drives our digital world as we network using 3D technology – we excel our visions, planning and design processes to reach new levels.
With RISE, we strengthen what unites us as part of a global thrivability movement. Holistic and transparent concepts, from fiction to reality, guiding a path towards circular economy, from fiber to fiber. We witness the fusion of nature and technology as hemp becomes the new mainspring for natural fibers and materials. Education plays an important role in the development of anti-greenwashing, climate-friendly visions and inclusion of looks, gender and body shapes, as well as new modular models in order to be able to react more flexibly to the market. All of which embrace the growing feelings that less is more, better quality is more.
We define our limits in order to push beyond them. Pragmatic solutions lead us to discover the joy in reduced colours and collection materials. Thinking beyond what was previously possible. We move forward with digitization, enjoying its advantages with a relaxed ease and assurance we ultimately bring us closer with our natural world.
MUNICH FABRIC START
31/08 – 02/09/2021
BLUEZONE
31/08 – 01/09/2021
Key Conversations: Natural dyeing as a future fundamental
The Atlas of Sustainable Colours: A guide to the future of natural dyeing
Colour researcher Julia Kaleta is dedicated to strengthening colour communication and exploration into natural dyeing as a sustainable alternative for the fashion industry. What began as a passion project, the Atlas of Sustainable Colours now addresses a real need in the industry by providing comprehensive colour referencing and inspiration for natural dyeing.
Julia Kaleta sat down with Simon Angel as part of our Key Conversations video series to talks us through the evolutions or the work, the challenges of integration with design libraries as well as the realities embraced by sustainable fashion brands and designers making the move towards sustainable alternatives in dyeing.
Can you tell us how you work and the atlas itself has changed since you exhibited at Keyhouse in 2019?
During the exhibition I made a lot of new connections and shared a lot of inspiring conversations which made me ask myself more questions about sustainable colouring. Since then, the project changed a bit, but its main goal to be a catalyst and facilitate the debate on sustainable colouring in the textile industry has stayed the same. I am currently working on a digital platform for the Atlas of Sustainable Colours, nevertheless, it is a side project which I am developing in my free time so this is still in the development phase. I keep in touch with researchers and designers in the field to stay up-to-date with new possibilities and challenges of colour innovation. Recently, I applied for a grant to further develop my research but unfortunately didn’t secure the necessary funding which would speed up production of the Atlas of Sustainable Colours, to make it available for those who would benefit from having it in their design libraries.
What is the next step to this project?
The project itself sparks a lot of curiosity as people are very interested in what the project has to offer, usually following up with messages about how to get their hands on a copy. This shows that small brands and independent designers are in need for a guide into alternative colouring. My focus now is on production and realising my dream to make this book available to buy. In the meantime, I offer services as a sustainable colour consultant to help brands navigate the challenges of natural dyeing. While it is not the first catalogue of natural colours, the Atlas of Sustainable Colours is indeed the first compendium and comprehensive guide to colours made with alternative dyeing methods.
Tell us what you’re currently working on, is there something in particular which is new and challenging you have to tackle?
Last year was particularly challenging for me. Especially while undergoing work to realise the digital platform, it is much bigger project which is still looking for funding to take the project forward. I was invited as a guest lecture to speak with students on the topic ‘Ecological debate in fashion through the prism of colour’. It was an extremely fulfilling experience that has led to my decision to study for a PhD. From here I would say that the most challenging thing will be to remind myself to keep developing the project also way that is sustainable for me.
What’s your viewpoint on colour in fashion?
I look at colour as a tool to create an aesthetic experience. Therefore, I encourage every designer who is in the unique position of power to create new objects, to ask themselves not only about the origin of textiles but also to wonder where the colour comes from and how it was produced. It’s not always easy to find that information, but in the process, you will think more in depth about the complexity of the fashion industry and the importance of questioning the origin of the resources we use. These are the kinds of questions we must ask if we want to make more sustainable products and secure a sustaining life on this planet.
Do you have any advice to brands making the shift from synthetic to natural dyeing processes?
The best way is to open up a conversation with your textile supplier. In the end the goal is to recreate the fashion system, and if you are working with a textile supplier ask if they have in their offer colours made with natural ingredients. If they don’t have it, they will at least notice a demand for change. If your brand’s DNA focuses on optimizing waste and being more circular, it is great to look for fabrics dyed with waste from the food industry or embrace the process of making it on your own. It is important for a designer who wants to work with alternative colours needs to embrace the unpredictability of the outcome of the dyeing process. From a design side of things, it is important to consider the fact that natural colours may gradually fade away. Lastly, locality is a very important sustainable value. What does it mean in the context of dyeing? Look for local dyers in your country and start amazing collaborations with local studios who will dye your collection with indigo, madder or turmeric for example.
Who is your dream company to collaborate with and why?
Oh I would love the Atlas of Sustainable Colours to be in every design school both as a reference and inspiration. Besides that it would be amazing to collaborate with Natsay Audrey Chieza, one of the pioneers in bio-dyeing and a very inspiring woman, who works in a field of biotechnology and design.
Our thanks to Julia Kaleta for her insights and joining us in conversation as part of the Key Conversation series with Sustainable Innovations curator, Simon Angel. If you’re interested in a collaboration with Julia, she’d love to hear from you! Find out more here: https://juliakaleta.com/contact
Let’s keep the conversation going … did this project spark an idea or do you have any questions? We’d love to hear from you, send us an email to info@munichfabricstart.com
Sustainable Innovations presents Key Conversations
Launch of our digital Sustainable Innovations forum with Key Conversations
As the curator of the Sustainable Innovations Forum, Simon Angel keeps an ear close to the ground when it comes to the latest material developments and emerging design concepts. It’s no surprise then that from years of experience he is an expert in cultivating relationships and bridging conversations to strengthen connection and progress in the world of Sustainable Innovations. Don’t miss to read about last seasons’ developments presented physically in the Sustainable Innovations forum at MUNICH FABRIC START.
“I’ve always thought of the Sustainable Innovations Forum as a podium, the forum is a place where we can have conversations, discuss ideas and share information. It has become a place for connection and collaboration. In times when designers and sustainable innovators are isolated and we cannot meet as before, it is important that we do not lose this connection. “
Simon Angel, Curator of the Sustainable Innovations Forum
Together with Simon, we have initiated a new video series we are calling ‘Key Conversations’ as an extended platform of the Sustainable Innovations forum. Hoping to provide designers and innovators with the opportunity to prompt and exchange ideas.
Even though designers may feel a sense of disconnection as they work alone in their studios, there is still so much exciting progress being made. By inviting designers to join him in conversation, Simon hopes to resolve this paradox and once again create another platform for connection and facilitate an open exchange of unique insights and experiences.
What is Key Conversations?
Simon will invite designers and innovators from his network as well as past and present members of sustainable innovations community to join him in video conversation. We can look forward to the same lively and friendly interaction which is key to getting to the heart of the projects which Simon will bring on board here. Our goal is to offer tangible insights which can led to real life applications and collaborations by sharing these conversations with our online community.
What is the goal of these conversations?
Collaboration through conversation is key. By revealing insights and sharing an open dialogue there is an opportunity to connect and broaden the scope of what we believe is possible for designers and brands. We hope readers of this blog and viewers who watch our videos can connect with the projects on a deeper level and jump on the profiles and websites of the designers to learn more. There is always a chance to take part in the conversation by sending an email to Simon Angel or the designers featured.
What innovations will we hear about?
We are keen to provide our community with an update from our previous participates of the Sustainable Innovations Forum. Especially, we will hear about the progress and growth of their concepts since joining us at the Keyhouse. As well as this, Simon will speak with innovators in the fields of organic material development, natural dyeing solutions, and the use of natural resources in technology, among many more unique and diverse topics.
What now?
New videos and interviews will be shared on our social media channels and Munique Blog. We will feature upcoming articles here in an easy collection coming soon!
Let’s keep the conversation going … did this project spark an idea or do you have any questions? We’d love to hear from you, send us an email to info@munichfabricstart.com
Our Upcoming Shows
For your collection planning: Our dates for Autumn.Winter 22/23 are set!
Our team is ready and excited to get back to doing what we love best: organising trade shows for you. With a healthy mix of confidence and realism, we look forward to the summer months ahead and look forward to seeing you again at our upcoming trade shows for Autumn.Winter 22/23:
VIEW Premium Selection: 13 – 14 July 2021
MUNICH FABRIC START: 31 August – 02 September 2021
BLUEZONE: 31 August – 01 September 2021
Working together with our industry partners, our team is committed to meet the wishes and market needs for physical events with this trade fair planning. Using the example set by our FABRIC DAYS event, which we successfully realised in September 2020, we will of course implement the upcoming trade fairs in a Covid-19 compliant manner, because our priority remains to ensure the safety of all those involved.
Our goal is to present the established, premium portfolio of MUNICH FABRIC START again at our show in September 2021: Fabrics, Additionals, Bluezone, Keyhouse, Design Studios, Sourcing, ReSource and Sustainable Innovations. Don’t miss your chance to meet your partners in person and connect with the industry at our shows. Event registration will be available in the weeks leading up to our show but get ready here and create your visitor login.
In the meantime, please take another look at our DIGITAL TREND SPACE with your latest material developments and our newly developed BLUEZONE Living Page – we are also currently working on a new homepage for MUNICH FABRIC START, which we will be launching soon.
Upcoming FABRIC DAYS is No Longer Possible
Upcoming FABRIC DAYS is no longer possible
Spring.Summer 22 edition planned for beginning of March cancelled
With the goal to realise a physical event for the fashion industry also in the Spring.Summer 22 season, our team has worked continuously to organise the second edition of FABRIC DAYS. We wanted to repeat what was proven in September 2020 with the sales focused, condensed business format: that efficient work is possible under the changed conditions thanks to strict hygiene and safety measures.
However, FABRIC DAYS planned for the beginning of March, does not follow after the summer months with lower infection numbers as the September edition had, but instead follows the winter months with persistently high infection numbers. Within the last weeks, the infection numbers in Germany and in Europe have unfortunately not definitively changed, which is why the German Government has prolonged and even intensified the current lockdown until at least January 31st 2021.
There are only 7 weeks until the beginning of March – unfortunately there is still no sign that the necessary decrease in infection rates will occur during this short period of time. Therefore, we currently have to assume that there will be no political basis on which trade fairs will be approved in Germany by then. In addition, travel restrictions are still in effect and the health and security of all visitors, exhibitors and service providers is as always of the highest priority.
With the current level of knowledge as well as the experiences from the past months, which serve as the basis for a realistic assessment of further developments in the coming weeks, FABRIC DAYS at the beginning of March is unfortunately no longer justifiable. We feel therefore compelled to cancel FABRIC DAYS from 2 – 4 March 2021.
“This decision is one of our hardest since the beginning of the pandemic, if not since we started organising trade shows for the fashion and textile industry. To this day we believed that by joining forces we would be able to repeat our success from September. Especially thanks to the numerous exhibitor registrations and the great trust and support from the industry. Unfortunately, the situation is different in the current winter months and has made planning an event impossible.”
Sebastian Klinder, Managing Director Munich Fabric Start
In the coming weeks, we will, true to the motto of the Spring.Summer 22 season “WE ARE ALL IN”, concentrate on providing our long-term exhibitors and visitors with a new basis of information and inspiration and examine the options for the next trade fair.
FABRIC DAYS Date Postponed to March
NEW DATE FOR FABRIC DAYS SPRING.SUMMER 22
2 – 4 MARCH 2021
The ongoing situation demands the highest flexibility and versatility from our industry. As we all miss personal exchange with our industry partners we want to offer a safe and inspiring physical platform as soon as possible. With this goal, we, the team at Munich Fabric Start Exhibitions GmbH, are undergoing plans for the second edition of FABRIC DAYS.
THE GOAL: TO REPEAT THE SUCCESSFULL REALISATION OF FABRIC DAYS
We are eager to offer a platform for those manufacturers and suppliers who can and want to present their collections in Munich. What has been successfully realised in September with FABRIC DAYS shall be repeated: that a trade fair is possible under the new conditions with Covid-19.
Based on current infection rates and the situation in Europe, the German government has announced an extended set of measures last week. Unfortunately, there are no signs yet of a steady decline in infection numbers, which decreases the chance that FABRIC DAYS would be approved in the first weeks of the new year. The time frame is too short to expect that conditions will improve as they did before our trade fair in September 2020. The risk of cancellation at short notice is too high, which would leave no room to take alternative action.
“If we look realistically at the next few weeks with the knowledge and experience gained over the past months, the date for FABRIC DAYS from 26 – 28 January 2021 is no longer justifiable for our exhibitors, visitors and for all contributors. Based on these facts, we feel obliged to postpone FABRIC DAYS by 5 weeks until 2 – 4 March 2021.”
Sebastian Klinder, Managing Director MUNICH FABRIC START
POSITIVE AND UNDERSTANDING FEEDBACK REGARDING THE NEW DATE 2 – 4 MARCH 2021
The first feedback from the exhibitors regarding the new date is understanding and positive. This underlines the very good response to FABRIC DAYS and the trust in us, the organisers. The need of the industry for a physical event in Munich is still high. We are expecting around 300 international suppliers to present their novelties and material developments for Spring.Summer 22.
The condensed, business focused format of FABRIC DAYS offers the flexibility needed to quickly adapt to the currently changing circumstances. We want to offer the industry the planning security needed and a physical textile fair for personal exchange. Thereby, we are in constant contact with our long-standing exhibitors and partners to always be able to evaluate the needs of the industry.
OPENING HOURS
2 MARCH 2021 · 9.30 AM – 6.30 PM
3 MARCH 2021 · 9.30 AM – 6.30 PM
4 MARCH 2021 · 9.30 AM – 4.00 PM
LOCATION
MOC Munich | Halls 1 – 4 Ground floor
Lilienthalallee 40
D – 80939 Munich
The New Season Starts with FABRIC DAYS
PLANNING THE SECOND EDITION OF FABRIC DAYS FOR SPRING.SUMMER 22
*Edit: The contents of this post have been updated according to our postponement announcement which you can read in more detail here.*
Following the successful staging of FABRIC DAYS at the beginning of September 2020 as the first physical trade fair after the lockdown, we have started planning the next round of trade fairs for the Spring.Summer 22 season. Our aim was to realise VIEW Premium Selection as a Preview Textile Fair to compliment the main trade fair which would follow 6 weeks later in Munich.
However, over the past few days the situation has changed drastically and with it the starting position. Current Covid-19 developments and the uncertainty of any changes move us further away from the certainty of being able to realise VIEW in the usual professional way in just a few weeks time. Further measures such as extended travel restrictions are not foreseeable at this point in time.
REALISATION OF VIEW PREMIUM SELECTION NO LONGER POSSIBLE
As a result of the current crucial developments, we no longer consider a trade fair at the beginning of December to be justifiable or responsible. After all, the health and safety of all exhibitors, visitors and participants at the trade fairs always has top priority. We feel compelled to cancel VIEW Premium Selection from 1 – 2 December 2020.
“The decision to cancel the VIEW Preview trade fair is a difficult one, however it must be based on our sense of safety and responsibility. After all, there are only a few weeks left until the beginning of December – a very short time in which the risk cannot be sufficiently assessed based on rates on infection to continue planning VIEW. We have reached a point where we should reduce our travel and social contacts to a minimum – at least for the time being with the option to resume again in the coming weeks.“
Sebastian Klinder, Managing Director MUNICH FABRIC START
STARTING THE NEW SEASON WITH FABRIC DAYS FROM 2- 4 MARCH 2021
Our team is now concentrating on organising the second edition of FABRIC DAYS from 2-4 March 2021 and is confident that they will be able to offer the textile industry the usual date to present the Spring.Summer 22 collections.
The condensed, business focused format of FABRIC DAYS offers the required flexibility to be able to adapt quickly to any changes in the coming months. The main objective here is to offer the industry the necessary planning security and a physical textile fair for personal exchange. In this way, we particularly rely on the support of the textile industry and the confidence placed in them during this extraordinary time.
”Of course we are doing everything we can to realise our plans despite the very dynamic times. This is a perspective for the industry and our fixed goal, which can only be achieved with our collective efforts. Flexibility and cohesion are particularly required now. We are prepared to offer the industry a platform in Munich for personal exchange, provided that it is possible and can be justified by all those involved.”
Frank Junker, Creative Director MUNICH FABRIC START
Our team has already received the first confirmed commitments and registrations for FABRIC DAYS from 2-4 March 2021. We are again expecting a high-quality collection portfolio from around 400 international suppliers who will present their new products for the Spring.Summer 22 season in Munich.
OPENING TIMES
2. MARCH 2021 · 9:30 – 18:30
3. MARCH 2021 · 9:30 – 18:30
4. MARCH 2021 · 9:30 – 16:00
LOCATION
MOC Munich | Halls 1 – 4 Groundfloor
Lilienthalallee 40
Germany, 80939, Munich
2020: Major Challenges, New Opportunities
2020: Major challenges, new opportunities
Interview with the organizers of FABRIC DAYS: Sebastian Klinder and Frank Junker about flexibility, new perspectives, alternative planning and the necessary transformations in our industry
Sebastian Klinder
2020 presents our industry and the entire economy with new challenges – what exactly awaits FABRIC DAYS visitors and what are you most looking forward to?
Sebastian Klinder (Sk): With FABRIC DAYS we are organising a concentrated business trade fair from 1 – 3 September 2020 with around 300 German and European exhibitors. In about 700 collections the novelties for Autumn.Winter 21/22 will be presented across 5 categories. Something we are especially proud of: Thanks to long standing partnerships with leading German textile agencies, many of the collections by European manufacturers will be shown exclusively and only in Munich this season. Above all, there is the chance for visitors to exchange ideas with suppliers and partners, to gather inspiration and to experience fabrics and additionals in real life.
Frank Junker (Fj): We are simply very much looking forward to welcoming the textile industry again after half a year of not seeing each other in person. Our enthusiasm is also reflected in our main theme for the Autumn.Winter 21/22 season: HOPETIMISM stands for a new era in the textile and fashion industry, showing new ways and perspectives. A spirit with which we can simultaneously design future oriented products and processes that are geared to market needs in a time that is very challenging for the industry. In addition to the selected high-quality exhibitor portfolio, FABRIC DAYS will feature a Trend Forum under the seasonal title HOPETIMISM.
How does it feel to organize the textile industry’s first physical trade fair after lockdown?
Fj: In general, we are very happy that, despite considerable hurdles, detours and many challenges, we have succeeded in organising the first textile fair after the lockdown. The last months have been exciting and dynamic. Fortunately, we have been able to rely on our experience as well as a certain flexibility within our network and team to create a suitable event format in the current situation.
Sk: With the measures we have taken, we are now well positioned to offer the industry the usual professional and inspiring working atmosphere in Munich. The fact that we have the support of the textile industry for this event lets us enjoy a special level of trust.
Frank Junker
Flexibility and adaptability are particularly in demand this year. How do you keep your focus when everything is turned upside down at short notice?
Sk: As an established industry partner, it is part of our philosophy to organise a trade fair for the textile industry even under the new, very dynamic conditions. Our aim is not only to implement necessary hygiene measures on a long term basis, but also to plan with different scenarios and to position ourselves flexibly. In such extraordinary times, it is important for us to provide solutions and to believe that there is always a way forward. And even to discard plan B and flexibly implement plan C within a very short time, if the situation requires it. However, all of this can only be realised together – with all exhibitors, visitors and participants of FABRIC DAYS.
Fj: That’s right, adaptability and creative solutions are currently demanded of each and every one of us. We are all working on ways to continue our daily lives WITH Covid-19, not after Covid-19. In the end, this applies to the entire industry. We must stick together in this time. Establishing trusted partnerships, synergies and concentrating on the essentials are what matters most right now.
What lessons can the industry learn from this crisis and where does Munich Fabric Start itself see opportunities?
Sk: In these times, it becomes very clear to us what the industry expects and needs from us. Future trade fairs will be good indicators for possible changes and opportunities – the keywords are: ordering behaviour, digitalisation and circular economy. These are topics that can completely restructure the textile industry along the entire supply chain right through to the consumer. The most important learning we can do is to continue to respond flexibly to the changing market needs and to offer the industry a platform for information and inspiration.
Fj: We see opportunity in the fact that generally, the industry is now moving closer together again. What counts here is cohesion and the right industry partnerships to simultaneously define new solutions as well as new processes. That’s why it is particularly important right now to maintain a transparent and open dialogue with partners and customers. Trust, reliability and communication are now indispensable.
We would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere thanks to our long standing partners: our loyal visitors, exhibitors and service providers! THANK YOU for your great commitment, your flexibility, your resolve to find new solutions, mutual trust, for their new visions and unique know-how. Your support motivates us to courageously and consistently continue on this path together.
