A solid trade show. An optimistic mindset. That sums up the outcome of MUNICH FABRIC START. After three days, the Munich textile fair came to an end yesterday, Thursday, with the integrated show-in-shows BLUEZONE, KEYHOUSE and THE SOURCE. MUNICH FABRIC START concluded with a stable visitor frequency compared to the previous event. Around 1,000 collections from international fabric and accessory manufacturers showcased their colour and material trends for Spring.Summer 27 at the MOC Munich. High-quality fabrics and accessories met international denim expertise and forward-looking innovations along the entire textile value chain.

Price, Margin, Consumption

‘The magic word is margin. Issues such as hand feel, quality and finish are completely secondary for the German market at the moment. There is a lack of appreciation for high quality,’ laments Mladen Pototschnik, Sales, Albini & Thomas Mason. He points to a further increase in price sensitivity and also sees the trade show development as an indicator that ‘the German clothing industry is struggling.’ Eser Kaygusuz, Sales Head at Yünsa, takes a similar view: ‘The mood in Germany is tense. Price sensitivity is high and consumer sentiment is poor. This is evident not only in the textile sector, but also in the figures for the automotive industry. Nevertheless, the first day of the trade show was not bad at all. Many important customers such as Seidensticker, Hugo Boss and Digel were already there.‘ Despite the challenging conditions, the trade show was used constructively by exhibitors and visitors alike. ’It went better than expected. Milan was so strong that we didn’t think it would be as good again in Munich. The quality of the customers was REALLY good. Toni Dress, Brax, Bugatti, Betty Barclay and Vera Mont – to name but a few,‘ says Thomas Buschjost, owner of the Fashion & Friends agency. Many customers would ’put the issue of price aside for the time being‘ and concentrate first on ’finding beautiful new things.‘

Compliance, AI and Circularity

In addition to trends, regulatory requirements such as the Digital Product Passport, digitalisation, AI and circular models were among the key topics covered in the extensive programme of presentations. ‘It’s not all about costs and optimizing. A major topic should be, how to translate policies into sourcing and how to achieve compliance with data consistency.‘ underlines political advisor Muchaneta ten Napel from Shape Innovate. During the three days of the trade show, she discussed topics such as these with numerous renowned experts on the panels. Round tables, talks and presentations highlighted the significant pressure for change that the industry will face from 2026 onwards. ‘There is no playbook. Every brand is working differently. I don’t have the feeling the industry is well prepared yet.‘ according to Leila Abu el Hawa, Advisor and Head of Product at Elizabeth Scarlett, when it comes to the Digital Product Passport.

KEYHOUSE presented new applied technology and system solutions. The focus was on transparency, trust and the transition to a circular economy – from strengthening resilient, circular processes to market ready innovations. Highlights included a new technology for smartphone-based authentication of fakes or originals from Original-ID, as well as Trove’s take-back system for resale and recycling, which was presented for the first time. ‘This is our response to the scarcity of raw materials,’ said Janis Künkler, Managing Director of Trove Europe. Research-related projects that take a cultural, sensory and systemic approach to sustainability were once again curated in the SUSTAINABLE INNOVATIONS Forum. Participants included Marie Vilay with the projects ‘To Read a Pattern’ and ‘A Bindle’, Materia Futura by Alessia Pasquini and Beatriz Sandini, and ‘Threaded Protocols’ by Floor Berkhout. Another trade show innovation with the highest sustainability standards: the collaboration between Dirt and Loads Collection with the first Demeter-certified textile collection. This is the first time the Demeter standard has been applied to textiles – with the prospect of it also being used for clothing in the future. ‘This is a real milestone,’ emphasises Lea Mahlke from Dirt, a new exhibitor in the RESOURCE Area.

The future begins where we reimagine it. After seasons of restraint, Spring.Summer 27 marks a conscious counter-trend: optimism, sensuality, and creative freedom are replacing pragmatism and neutrality. Physical presence and individuality are regaining importance – as a response to uncertainty, exhaustion, and algorithmic predictability. The overarching theme of PLEASURE stands for fashion as an emotional space, as an expression of attitude and cultural reflection. Colours, surfaces, and materials become vehicles for self-confidence and joie de vivre.

Clearly structured trade show, strong names

Clarity and structure combined with creativity and optimism are also reflected in the spatial layout of MUNICH FABRIC START. The consolidation of the trade show segments into the MOC has proven successful. The trade show ensemble with its eight areas will once again take place under one roof. BLUEZONE and KEYHOUSE with SUSTAINABLE INNOVATIONS will be anchored in the highly frequented area of MUNICH FABRIC START in Hall 2 for the upcoming event – directly connected to the FABRICS and ADDITIONALS areas.

The DESIGN STUDIOS in Hall 4 are now even more centrally located. And sustainable sourcing with RESOURCE is also gaining a stronger presence in Hall 1, right next to THE SOURCE.

Focused, inspiring, comprehensive: to offer buyers and designers a holistic overview, the BLUEZONE denim trends are now integrated directly into the trend worlds surrounding the main theme of PLEASURE in the foyer of the MOC. This new form of presentation reflects market developments, in which denim and classic fashion segments are increasingly merging in collections.

With names such as ALBINI GROUP, Beste spa, Bonotto, Bornemann Etiketten, BUREAUX BO, CAN Tekstil, Eurojersey, Fabric House.com, KIKI FASHION, Kivanc Tekstil, Lanificio di Tollegno, Manteco, Pontetorto, Pontoglio, Rioplele, and Thermore, MUNICH FABRIC START offers a strong portfolio of leading international fabric and accessory manufacturers. Exhibitor highlights in the BLUEZONE include Berto, Bossa, Calik, ISKO, Orta, Sharabati, Tejidos Royo, and Troficolor Denim Makers.

Drinks, Snacks, Networking and Musik: Following the second day of the trade show, MUNICH FABRIC START is inviting to AFTER SHOW DRINKS starting at 6:30 p.m. 

Solid trade show results: At its 56th edition, MUNICH FABRIC START reinforced its clear positioning. Over two days, the Munich textile trade show brought the fashion industry together with its four show-in-show formats. The concept of presenting the international denim trade show BLUEZONE and the innovation hub KEYHOUSE together with MUNICH FABRIC START and THE SOURCE under one roof at the MOC Munich was a success.

KEYHOUSE & SUSTAINABLE INNOVATIONS: Cutting Edge Technology

Bridging the gap between groundbreaking concepts and scalable, market-ready solutions – that was the focus of the KEYHOUSE innovation hub and SUSTAINABLE INNOVATIONS area, newly located in the highly frequented Hall 2 at the MOC. In conjunction with an impressive supporting programme featuring almost 50 events and over 40 international experts, concentrated expertise met innovative approaches and forward-looking new technologies. Circular economy, digitalisation, compliance, materials research, sustainable innovations and new approaches to sourcing through long-term partnerships and strategic collaborations were presented and discussed here over two days. “Fashion isn’t broken – it was designed that way,” says Muchaneta ten Napel, policy advisor and founder of Shape Innovate. Her Roadmap 2035 is a wake-up call for anyone who has not yet addressed circularity and a transparent supply chain. “Fashion and technology have never been the best of friends. But we must not lose focus – we need disruption to drive real improvement. It has never been easier than it is today to use technology to address pain points,” says Güneri Tuğcu of CNCT by r-pac. Nikita Raman, Senior Denim Designer at Hugo Boss, emphasised the importance of genuine collaboration: “It’s a win-win situation when suppliers and brands work together and enter into long-term partnerships.” “Growing as a brand while reducing our dependence on virgin materials and our environmental footprint – that’s when we are successful. This is the strategy we are pursuing at Tommy Hilfiger,” summarises Thijs Maartens, Vice President of Sustainability at Tommy Hilfiger. Simon Angel, curator of SUSTAINABLE INNOVATIONS at MUNICH FABRIC START, is thrilled that a new phase has begun: “The motto for this season is: ’We will get the right answers if we ask the right questions.’ And these are exactly the questions being asked. For the first time, I feel that designers are reaching a new level – the aspiration to do things right – and are thus also finding their way into large companies.”

Thomas Nick Müller, owner of the Max Müller agency, sees a trend towards special features:  “Customers are looking for more specialities. The days when everything was grey and beige are over. Instead, new winter colours are coming in designs, tone-on-tone checks, jacquards and plain fabrics, but always with texture. The surfaces must not be too flat; mouliné yarns are important. Our customers were there, but it must also be said that if there used to be 100 back in the days, now there are perhaps 30.” Drykorn would have liked to see more highlights: “We are a German company and are delighted to have a German trade show, which we always enjoy supporting. This is where we do our bread and butter business and we found everything we needed here. We would like to see more highlights in the collections. We have grown because we are bold, not because we are cautious. We need more cherries on top,” says Fred Götz, Creative Director Menswear and Interior Design at Drykorn. There was plenty of time for networking and informal conversations at get-togethers held to celebrate Herrlicher’s anniversary and the launch of the new HOMEGROWN DENIM LEGENDS format at BLUEZONE, as well as at The Fashion Grid’s happy hour and MUNICH FABRIC START’s MUNIQUE APÉRO, which attracted around 1,300 guests.

After two days, MUNICH FABRIC START closed with visitor numbers stable compared to last year. Visitors included designers, product managers, buyers and company bosses from numerous European and international brands such as adidas, A Kind of Guise, Alberto, Alpha Tauri, Anna van Toor, Another Brand, Armedangels, Atelier Gardeur, Balenciaga, Bestsecret, Betty Barclay, Black Palms, BMW, Bogner, Brax, bugatti, C&A, Calzedonia, Camel Active, Cinque, Closed, Comma, Digel, Drykorn, Dubarry of Ireland, Escada, Fynch-Hatton, Gerry Weber, Guido Maria Kretschmer, Hanro, Herrlicher, Hessnatur, Holy Fashion Group, HSE, Hugo Boss, IB Company, JOOP!, Lagerfeld, Lanius, Lodenfrey, Luisa Cerano, MAC, Marc Aurel, Marc Cain, Marc O’Polo, Mercedes Benz, Mey, More & More, NKD, Olymp, OUI, Peek & Cloppenburg, Porsche, Riani, Roeckl, s.Oliver, Schöffel, Seidensticker, Sportalm, Sportscheck, Strellson, Summum, Talbot Runhof, Tommy Hilfiger, Toni Dress, Westwing, Windsor and Zero. Visitors came from 54 countries, mainly from Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Turkey, Czechia, Poland, Greece, Spain, Portugal and Scandinavia, in addition to Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The trade show dates were the subject of intense discussion among both visitors and exhibitors. The organisers are considering bringing forward MUNICH FABRIC START for Autumn.Winter 27/28 from September to mid/late July 2026. Further details will be announced in the coming weeks. What is certain is that the upcoming edition for Spring.Summer 27 will run for three days from 27 to 29 January 2026.

The countdown is on: in just three weeks, Munich will once again become the epicentre of the European fashion and textile industry. During the first week of September, MUNICH FABRIC START Exhibitions GmbH will unite all key fashion segments under one roof, reaffirming its position as one of Europe’s leading textile trade shows.

On September 2 and 3, 2025, the international denim trade show BLUEZONE and the innovation hub KEYHOUSE will, for the first time, be staged alongside MUNICH FABRIC START and THE SOURCE at the MOC Munich. This powerful combination consolidates the event’s role as a central platform for the industry, offering a comprehensive one-stop sourcing solution for designers, product managers, and fashion professionals.

With around 1,200 collections from approximately 600 international fabric and accessories manufacturers, MUNICH FABRIC START promises a highly inspiring and business‑focused edition – setting the tone for the trends and innovations shaping the seasons ahead.

Manifattura Italia

Team Spirit: Collaborations Driving Innovation, Sustainability and Networking

Numerous collaborations between industry, research institutes and universities at MUNICH FABRIC START once again highlight the importance of forward-thinking together in order to advance the fashion industry in a sustainable way. Upcycling meets high-tech embroidery: The Sigmaringen Fashion School, in cooperation with Mountek, Gunold and Reiner Knochel, is hosting an interactive upcycling project. From design and the selection of fabrics and yarns through to production on a high-tech embroidery machine, visitors can create their own individual patches from fabric scraps and vintage denim – live on site. MFS X The Fabric Connector Pilot: This season marks the first collaboration between MUNICH FABRIC START and The Fabric Connector. In a joint pilot project in the RESOURCE Area, visitors will be supported in making more sustainable sourcing decisions through expert advice, information, and a new impact measurement tool. Pioneering biotextiles for the future: BIOTEXFUTURE will present three selected research projects at the upcoming MUNICH FABRIC START – BioCushion, bioPEtex and CircWool. These projects focus on recyclable instead of oil-based spacer fabrics, bio-based polyethylene as a new raw material for the apparel industry, and a novel solvent-based recycling technology for wool waste, enabling its reintegration into the textile cycle. Industry partners involved include adidas AG, Falke KGaA, ORTOVOX Sportartikel GmbH and zwissTEX Germany.

Innovation Factor: Textile – Material and Product Novelties

The Autumn.Winter 26/27 season is defined by the theme “RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW” – reflecting the search for orientation, credibility, and identity in times of uncertainty. As familiar certainties begin to waver and trust in established structures is shaken, “RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW” calls on the industry to actively embrace the moment, understand the current zeitgeist, and sharpen awareness for profound transformation across the sector. The guiding theme encourages a focused perception of the present, inviting professionals to engage with the sweeping changes and opportunities that are shaping the world of textiles and fashion right now.

Highlights at MUNICH FABRIC START: New Product Developments

Among the innovations showcased at MUNICH FABRIC START are Smartcel, an antibacterial, breathable material with UV protection, and Seacell, a biodegradable fibre containing seaweed, known for its exceptional softness and skin-friendly properties. Bloomati by Carvema Têxtil focuses on essential comfort, reinterpreted with smart textures and refined classics such as jersey, fleece, rib and piqué. Elissa Stampa makes a strong statement with bold floral prints and vibrant colour worlds, while 6Dias presents fabrics made from innovative, sustainable fibres like orange, mint or pineapple. In the ADDITIONALS section, Studio 9’s “Quarter” collection combines tactile appeal, technology and design in trims and introduces a digital product passport featuring NFC and QR code technology – offering greater transparency along the supply chain.

The Spring.Summer 2025 edition of MUNICH FABRIC START came to an end yesterday afternoon. Under the motto “CLARITY”, designers, buyers, product managers and decisionmakers were able to view the latest products and services for the new season from around 1,000 international suppliers, spread over the eight areas ADDITIONALS, FABRICS, ReSOURCE, BLUEZONE, DESIGN STUDIOS, KEYHOUSE, SUSTAINABLE INNOVATIONS and THE SOURCE.

The essence of the meeting of the European fashion industry: we are experiencing a return to our roots to meet the growing need for orientation – supported by a variety of exciting sustainable and AI-supported solutions that can pave the way to the future for the industry.

Trends: Spring.Summer 25

Looking at trends for Spring.Summer 2025, various developments emerged: on the one hand, a return to the familiar, the tried and tested, with a focus on craftsmanship and clear shapes. The nostalgia is partially broken up by complementary statement pieces from the athleisure or, in women’s fashion, lingerie sector. Denim is omnipresent in the coming season – not least because it is probably the most democratic fabric and can be translated into any quality and price category. In womenswear, there will be new interpretations of the men’s shirt, which will be deconstructed in its classic masculine forms. The focus will be on natural materials such as linen and hemp, not least in the area of new casual work wear, especially in combination with warm neutrals and broken facets of white. We will also continue to see lots of pastels – albeit in new nuances, balanced by an earthy colour palette.

On January 23 and 24, BLUEZONE once again transformed the Zenith Area into the absolute denim hot spot. The entire blue-blooded community met here to explore the future of the denim industry. The transformation of the denim industry towards even greater sustainability remains a key topic: cradle-2-cradle concepts, innovative recycling processes and resource-efficient washing, dyeing and finishing technologies were often the focus of the collections presented, as well as stand and aisle discussions and trend lectures. The Denim Deal, which has now been signed by 53 market-leading denim companies, was initially presented in Germany at the BLUEZONE stage. It aims to make the use of recycled materials mandatory in new textile products. The Hall of Fame brought the BLUEZONE “Signature” leitmotif to life by showcasing personal pieces by fashion icons such as Jason Denham, Adriana Galijasevic, Adriano Goldschmied or Renzo Rosso and telling their respective stories. Personal encounters and exchange were also the motto of MUNICH FABRIC NIGHT, where all MUNICH FABRIC START exhibitors and visitors brought the dance floor to a boil in the Dampfdom at Motorworld on the evening of the first day of the show.

In just a few months’ time, the next key event for the European fashion industry will be the VIEW Premium Selection on June 18 and 19 at Motorworld to kick off the Autumn.Winter 25 season. The June event offers an initial inspiring overview of upcoming trends and innovations in the areas of Fabrics, Denim & Sportswear, Additionals and Design Studios for the coming season, and is therefore an essential time for quick ordering, innovations and developments in the fashion industry ahead of the important September event.

KEY FIGURES & HARD FACTS

Over the past three days, 11,700 visitors came to the Munich MOC and the Zenith Area. Many important brands, such as adidas, Akris, Alberto, Alpha Tauri, Anna van Toor, Armed Angels, Baldessarini, Bestseller, Betty Barclay, BMW, Bogner, Brax, C&A, Carhartt, Closed, Comma, Condé Nast, Digel, Diesel, Drykorn, Escada, Eterna, Ganni, Hessnatur, Holy Fashion Group, HSE, Hugo Boss, Inditex, Joop, Katag, Lagerfeld, Lanius, Lodenfrey, Mac, Maloja, Marc Cain, Marc O’Polo, März, Mey, More&More, Mustang, MyTheresa, Oui, Remei, Riani, Roxy, s. Oliver, Schumacher, Seidensticker, Sportalm, Talbot Runhof, Tchibo, Tom Tailor, Tory Burch, Windsor and Wolford were on site.

The visitors came from 58 countries, mainly from Eastern Europe, Germany, Italy, Scandinavia, the UK, the Benelux countries, but also from South America, the USA, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oceania. Complimented by a comprehensive supplementary program with prominent and international speakers from various areas of the industry and numerous opportunities for networking, MUNICH FABRIC START once again impressed with its integrated concept.

Further voices:

The most important fabric trends for Autumn.Winter 2024/25, lectures and discussions on the most relevant industry topics as well as plenty of networking opportunities: after three days, Germany’s largest and most important fabric trade show, MUNICH FABRIC START, with over 1,100 collections on display, came to an end yesterday, Thursday. The international and, compared to pre-covid times, restrained transcontinental travel behaviour of the fashion industry and the general changes in the market are also partly reflected at MUNICH FABRIC START – the fundamentally positive mood on the part of exhibitors and visitors at the trade show, which took place for the first time at an early July date, proved that the trade show location Munich is set for fabric sourcing.

After three days full of program, networking, inspiration and fashion business, the 52nd edition of the international trade show MUNICH FABRIC START came to an end yesterday, Thursday. The anniversary edition of the denim trade show BLUEZONE, which celebrated its 20th birthday this summer, the onestop sourcing platform THE SOURCE and the innovation hub KEYHOUSE closed their doors for this season on Wednesday evening after two days.

Trends: what we will see in Autumn.Winter 24/25

Due to its much earlier summer date for the first time this year, MUNICH FABRIC START once again increased its relevance as a place for early trend research. The five exclusively developed, central aesthetic trends for the winter season 2024/2025 are united under the leitmotiv “each other” and were staged over a wide area in the foyers of the MOC: Highland Hybrids: a patchwork of nature, tradition and performance; Mystic Beings: the fantasy world of elves, heroes, monsters and robots; System Cringe: a movement that calls for action; Kinky Classics: provocatively extroverted with style and Past Forward, a retro-futuristic point of view. “In the past, entire worlds of colours and materials were excluded from the outset for women because they were not compatible with our outdated ideas of the beautiful and weak gender. And it is precisely these colours and materials that women are now conquering. For the first time in the history of fashion, women are now wearing the colours of concrete, anthracite charcoal and mud and materials like bacon saddle leather, stiff raw denim and scratchy tweed,” says Carl Tillessen, CEO of DMI, summarising the most striking shifts. The DMI Fashion Day, which took place the day before the show at the MOC, also celebrated a successful premiere, creating synergies for visitors and exhibitors alike.

Edutainment – future-oriented and sustainable application scenarios

In addition to the extensive trend information for Autumn.Winter 2024/25, the show offered a diverse program of lectures with panel discussions, inspiring keynotes and lectures. Around 35 agenda items and over 50 speakers ensured a comprehensive edutainment experience. Future-oriented sustainable material developments – from research to the finished product – were discussed by Simon Angel, Sustainable Innovations Curator, with Nicole Espey from Biotexfuture, among others. VirtualKnitting, Mycotex, AlgaeTex, BioTurf, BioBase, CO2TEX and BioCoat are just some of the innovations that were presented and discussed. Everyone agreed that it is important that industry and research work closely together in a network to really make progress. Otherwise, research projects remain in research and do not make it to market – “the Death Valley of research” as Espey called it. The upcoming and partly already implemented legal regulations as well as their concrete effects on the entire fashion and textile industry took up a large part of the discussion. In three application-oriented sessions and discussion rounds, Rolf Heimann, Chairman & CEO of the Hessnatur Foundation, showed how and where companies can start in their supply chain to promote recyclable products and processes and how these can be integrated into corporate practice.

Kim van der Weerd, Intelligence Director of the Transformers Foundation, presented the new guide “An Apparel Supplier’s Guide to Key Sustainability Legislation in the EU, US and UK”, which was launched on Thursday. It presents twelve international regulations and their requirements that companies can expect in the coming years – with a clear focus on textile manufacturers. “It is a large number of regulations for suppliers to fulfill in the near future. My advice: look at it as a holistic business change. It will not only involve the sustainability teams, but also HR, sourcing and others”, Kim van der Weerd summarised the legislative changes coming to the industry at the panel accompanying her keynote with Danijela Cafuta (Lenzing AG), Rashid Iqbal (Naveena Denim NDL) and Ilishio Lovejoy (Simple Approach). During the panel “Newtopia – Reconstructing the Jeans of the Future from Scratch”, Panos Sofianos discussed the future of denim with Jordan Nodarse (Bossa), Romain Narcy (Ereks & Era Denim Group), Hamit Yenici (Hich Solutions), Christina Agtzidou (Tom Tailor Group) and Marco Lucietti (Sanko Holding ISKO Division):

“Bast in general is a good competitor to the good old cotton. I think bast has a great future. But I see it from a mainstream side as well – it is still very expensive and it’s difficult to implement. Mills should make it more approachable,” Christina Agtzidou brought up a rethink at fibre level. Marco Lucietti called for an even broader shift: “We have to shift the paradigm towards consumption. It’s not just about reduce and reuse. Now is the time of NOT using any new materials of virgin fibers. We have to close the loop and make recycled products accessible to the market.”

“We need to create more fashion that costs money. This is about the question: what value does fashion have for us? And what is it worth to us to buy a sustainable product? We all have to work towards a different way of thinking, so that we also pay for things according to their value again,” Karin Schmitz, Business Development Director Peclers Paris aptly summarised the status quo of the current discussions in the industry during her trend lecture.

ConneXXion – 20 years of BLUEZONE

BLUEZONE celebrated a special anniversary summer: in addition to 150 years of the jeans patent, 70 years of Orta and 50 years of the Ruedi Karrer Jeans Museum Zurich, the aim was to celebrate its own round birthday – 20 years of BLUEZONE – in a fitting manner. More than 100 denim and sportswear specialists transformed the completely booked Munich Zenith area into a blue hotspot and showed the relevant fabric developments for the coming autumn. The MUNICH FABRIC NIGHT on Tuesday evening provided a worthy setting for the birthday party – the DJ Crew Geschwister Schall heated up the party-hungry MUNICH FABRIC START and BLUEZONE guests in the open air with beats and bites.

Panels and talks with Women in Denim, Mohsin Sajid and The 5 Denim Senses of AMD Düsseldorf, additional installations such as the photo exhibition “The World’s best Denim Fades” by Bryan Szabo, founder of The Indigo Invitational, the exhibition by designer Ksenia Schnaider and a special presentation by “The Jeans Museum” Zurich, through which Ruedi Karrer himself gave guided tours, made the Zenith area much more than a place to order. Ten denim trends were presented in the BLUEZONE: Old Money, Cover Up, Special Operations, Starsystem, Generational Baggies, Nope Indigo, S-Art-orial, Unbleached Nature, Lowriders and Belts ‘n Buckles. Curator of the denim trends at BLUEZONE is Tilmann Wröbel, Creative Director & Founder Monsieur-T. Denim Lifestyle Studio. The closing words and at the same time key take-away of his trend presentation were: “We are not expected to sell only pants anymore.” This became more than clear in the ten trend themes, because denim is present in fashion everywhere and in every facet and style – from tops, blazers, jackets and suits and outdoor with jackets and coats to haute couture gowns.

One-Stop-Innovation & One-Stop-Sourcing

At KEYHOUSE – the innovation and sustainability hub of MUNICH FABRIC START – everything once again revolved around technological and ecological progress. The Sustainable Innovations as a special presentation area for outstanding new developments on the borderline between start-up and scalability were once again one of the absolute visitor magnets of the show. The ReSource Area in Hall 2 of the MOC was also all about sustainability. The meta-platform for certified  ecologically and socially produced fabrics and accessories has been showcasing the green solutions of the show’s exhibitors in one place for over ten years now, thus enabling visitors to engage in targeted sustainable sourcing.

“The mood in the market is good. The development of 3D production is a big topic in the industry – especially on the first day of the show we noticed this in the operation at our stand, which we were very satisfied with. On the second day it could have been a bit more crowded. The potential of 3D manufacturing is so great, even companies that were still sceptical a year ago now see the need for it,” says Fabian Grünwald, Key Account Manager at Assyst, pleased about the industry’s increasing openness to technology.
For the second time, the show-in-show THE SOURCE took place on 18 and 19 July as an integrated area of MUNICH FABRIC START and rounded off the MUNICH FABRIC START ecosystem in the direction of apparel manufacturing. Around 60 selected apparel manufacturers showed their product and service lines in Hall 8 of the Dampfdom in Motorworld and thus directly adjacent to the MOC and the Zenith area.

Hard Facts & Figures

On a total of 42,500 square metres, MUNICH FABRIC START in Munich brought together the fashion and denim industry in eight areas – Additionals, Per4mance, ReSource, Fabrics, Design Studios, BLUEZONE, KEYHOUSE / Sustainable Innovations and THE SOURCE. Over 1,100 collections from around 900 international suppliers to the textile and apparel industry were presented by internationally renowned exhibitors such as Algaeing, Assyst, Cadica, Calik, CNC, Denim Authority, Isko, KBC, Kurabo, Liberty, Lisa, Naveena Denim, NDL, Orta, Royo, Saitex, Sharabati, Sorona, Takisade, Tessuti, WeNordic and Yünsa.

With a total of 10,800 visitors from 56 countries – most of them from Germany, Italy, France, Spain, The Netherlands, Turkey as well as China, but also from Japan, New Zealand and the US – from relevant brands and retailers, including Adidas, Akris, Anna van Toor, Armedangels, Baldessarini, Betty Barclay, BMW, Brax, Calvin Klein, Calida, Cambio, Camel Active, Comma, Drykorn, Escada, Esprit, Gerry Weber, Holy Fashion Group, Hugo Boss, IB Company, Inditex, Katag, Lagerfeld, Living Crafts, Lodenfrey, Luisa Cerano, MAC Mode, Marc Cain, Marc O’Polo, Mey, More & More, Murkudis, Olsen, Olymp, Orsay, Otto, Oui, Peek & Cloppenburg, Puma, QVC, Riani, S. Oliver, Schumacher, Seidensticker, Strellson, Talbot Runhof, Tommy Hilfiger, Tom Tailor and Uli Schneider among others, the number of visitors was slightly down overall in a competitive market environment.

Looking to the near future, MUNICH FABRIC START is now focusing on three important dates that have already been fixed: firstly, reVIEW Autumn.Winter 24/25 will take place for the first time at Motorworld on 13 and 14 September 2023 – and thus covers the previous time period of MFS and BLUEZONE – offering the industry a late ordering date in Munich as usual. Only ten weeks later, preVIEW will take place on 28 and 29 November 2023, offering a first opportunity to order the Spring/Summer collections for 2025. Finally, the industry will gather again for MUNICH FABRIC START and BLUEZONE from 23 to 25 January 2024.

FURTHER VOICES: