#Textiles & Apparel / Garment

2024-08-01

ISPO Munich 2024 unveils the future of sportswear

ISPO Munich, the leading trade fair for the global sports business, will open its doors from December 3 – 5 at the Munich Riem Exhibition Center. This year's theme, "LOVE EVERY CONTACT," perfectly encapsulates the blend of networking and inspiration. Visitors will witness the dynamic fusion of sports and style, outdoor and fashion, while having the chance to engage directly with brands and exhibitors, forging valuable connections.

ISPO Munich visitors wait for admission © 2024 Messe München GmbH

The epicenter for this is Hall B1, where ISPO 520M by Highsnobiety sets the stage to jointly shape the future of outdoor, fashion, and culture. Simultaneously, the Zeitgeist by ISPO presentation concept offers brands a platform to elevate the momentum of sportswear with their innovative designs and concepts. This experience is further enriched by the new partnership with JOOR, the world’s largest digital wholesale platform in fashion, which provides seamless access to the fashion and lifestyle markets.

“Contemporary outdoor, tenniscore, basketball, or running: no matter which sport-inspired lifestyle is currently trending or set to trend, it's clear that sports and outdoor activities are capturing the spirit of the times. At ISPO Munich, we will showcase how versatile and inspiring the fusion of sports and style, outdoor and fashion can be on our curated special areas, Zeitgeist by ISPO and 520M by Highsnobiety,” says Exhibition Director Lena Haushofer. These spaces provide the perfect setting for building valuable connections and fostering extensive networking opportunities.

520M by Highsnobiety

The fusion of fashion and outdoor worlds has ushered in a new era of creative collaboration. 520M by Highsnobiety stands at the crossroads of fashion, outdoor lifestyle, and culture, offering a dynamic platform that merges expertise from ISPO's performance sphere with Highsnobiety's cultural and fashion influence. 520M delves into the evolving landscape of outdoor fashion, highlighting the brands, products, and individuals shaping this transformative field.

David Fischer, CEO and Founder of Highsnobiety, shares his excitement: “We at Highsnobiety are thrilled to partner with ISPO once again. This year, our Area 520M at ISPO is the melting pot where style and culture converge with sport and innovation. ISPO Munich provides the perfect stage for this fusion, where the future of sports and sports fashion come together seamlessly.” 520M is not just a showcase but also a vibrant hub for the community to engage with leading visionaries and creative minds in the industry. This year, brands like HOKA and Stanley are already on board, adding to the excitement and innovation on display.

Zeitgeist by ISPO

After its impressive debut last year, Zeitgeist by ISPO is returning to ISPO Munich for its second edition. This dynamic platform will spotlight both iconic sportswear brands and emerging streetwear labels, providing them with a prestigious stage.

Lena Haushofer explains, “We aim is to unite the most exciting names in the industry—trendsetters, pioneering brands, established leaders, and fresh newcomers. The common thread is creativity and originality. Zeitgeist by ISPO will reveal the innovative perspectives that are shaping the future of fashion, sportswear, and street fashion. The true impact of these groundbreaking brands becomes evident when they are given the right showcase.”

This year’s lineup includes returning favorites like Quartz Co., Sandqvist Bags & Items AB, We Norwegians, Varsity Headwear, and Snowpeak, as well as exciting new additions such as VEJA, Amundsen Sports AS, Haglöfs AB, The Mountain Studio, CHPO, and many others.

Sustainability and textiles were a major topic at ISPO 2023 © 2024 Messe München GmbH

JOOR as the New B2B- Communication Hub

With 14,000 brands—including renowned names like Saint Laurent, Giorgio Armani, Descente, and Umbro—and over 600,000 buyers from 150 countries spanning luxury, fashion, footwear, accessories, and sports, ISPO Munich is enhancing its reach through a new and highly beneficial partnership with JOOR. This collaboration creates a pivotal new communication channel for the sports and outdoor industry.

The JOOR platform offers direct connections to fashion and lifestyle retailers while keeping them updated on the latest products, trends, and innovations in the sports and outdoor

sectors. This new digital 360-degree channel enhances B2B reach and aligns with ISPO's vision as a global hub for innovation and inspiration.

Through the inclusion of the JOOR platform in the ISPO Munich 2024 participation package, ISPO offers its exhibitors an advanced forward-thinking service. The JOOR Passport offers exclusive benefits by facilitating digital buying and selling opportunities while also extending the trade show experience online.

With innovative projects like Zeitgeist by ISPO and 520M by Highsnobiety, combined with the new partnership with JOOR, ISPO Munich is redefining the industry’s future by seamlessly blending sports, style, outdoor, and fashion. This forward-thinking approach solidifies ISPO's position as a leader in navigating and shaping evolving trends and future developments.

ISPO 2025: Dynamism, innovation, and strong impulses through close industry dialogue

Sports are becoming increasingly diverse and blending with many new areas. As a result, the sports industry is growing larger, customer demand is changing, and its fields of application are becoming more varied. New technologies, data-driven business models, sustainability, and international networking are shaping the market. In this dynamic environment, ISPO exhibitors demonstrate how change can be actively shaped.

EOG and Messe München decide to pause OutDoor 2025

“Sometimes, courageous decisions are needed”, said Christian Schneidermeier, who recently took on his new role as Director of the European Outdoor Group at the beginning of February. “But beyond being courageous, our decision not to hold OutDoor in 2025 is logical. Despite our best efforts – ranging from a new trade fair concept to thorough discussions and appeals – the number of registrations that we have received to date indicates that we will not achieve the goals set for OutDoor 2025.

Sport, health, fashion: The highlights of ISPO Munich 2024

Rethink the world of sports and shape it together: that’s what ISPO Munich 2024 (3 to 5 December 2024) is calling for with this year’s main topics Retail & Sustainability, Health & Fashion, and Tech/AI & Sports Extended. With over 2,400 exhibitors, topic-specific hubs and an extensive programme featuring prominent speakers, the upcoming event will set new standards and show how technology, sustainability and health are revolutionising the sports industry. With a total of five conferences, the accompanying conference programme offers deeper insights into various topics.

YKK launches “YZiP® Light” aluminum alloy zipper for cotton pants

YKK Corporation (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Koichi Matsushima; hereafter, YKK) has launched YZiP® Light, a lightweight aluminum alloy zipper for cotton pants, with sales beginning in late March. The introduction of YZiP® Light expands YKK’s zipper portfolio—led by the flagship YZiP® copper alloy zipper—providing customers with greater flexibility to meet diverse garment needs.

Coats to showcase innovative reinforcement and filler materials for leather goods and accessories at APLF 2026

Coats, a world-class Tier 2 manufacturer and trusted partner for the apparel and footwear industries, will be promoting four advanced materials from its ‘Lifestyle Solutions’ portfolio at APLF 2026 in Hong Kong in March. Each innovation has been specifically engineered to help luxury and premium brands elevate the craft, durability, sustainability and creative expression required in the manufacturing of handbags, purses, and other high-end designer accessories.

Design, innovation and sustainability propel VIATT 2026’s expanding role in ASEAN textile sourcing

At its third edition, the Vietnam International Trade Fair for Apparel, Textiles, and Textile Technologies (VIATT) further reinforced its role as a key sourcing and business platform for ASEAN’s textile industry. The three-day fair welcomed over 17,000 visits from 54 countries and regions, and featured over 460 exhibitors from 21 countries and regions across 18,000 sqm. The 2026 edition was marked by the introduction of new international pavilions and zones, broadening the fair’s sourcing scope across new geographies and product categories. The fringe programme, headlined by the debut Trend Forum, further distinguished VIATT as the region’s most integrated textile trade platform – uniquely spanning the entire value chain.

New study shows low environmental impact by Cotton made in Africa Organic Cotton from Tanzania

Today, the Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF) is announcing the results of a comprehensive life-cycle analysis (LCA) for cotton produced in Tanzania under the Cotton made in Africa Organic (CmiA Organic) standard. The study emphasises the small ecological footprint of CmiA Organic verified cotton. This can largely be traced back to the absence of synthetic pesticides, artificial fertilisers, and artificial irrigation. Consequently, CmiA Organic cotton can help the textile industry meet regulatory requirements as well as science-based targets. The results also show that the consequences of climate change threaten the livelihoods of these cotton farmers, even though the type of agriculture they practise barely contributes to climate change.

PERFORMANCE DAYS proves its relevance as the industry’s key meeting point

Held on March 18–19, 2026, PERFORMANCE DAYS once again confirmed its position as a leading international platform for functional textiles. A total of 3.366 trade visitors and around 560 exhibitors gathered in Munich, with the event already kicking off successfully on DAY 0, which received highly positive feedback for its interactive format. Despite challenging conditions caused by the public transport strike in Munich, the event saw strong attendance and a consistently high level of activity across both exhibition days.