#Textiles & Apparel / Garment

2019-01-24

Highlights, innovations, and sports stars at ISPO

From yoga and fitness trends to esports and new developments in the world of climbing: more than 2,800 international exhibitors will be presenting their highlights and innovations at ISPO Munich, the world’s largest sports trade fair, which is set to be held from February 3 to 6. In addition to live demonstrations and workshops, industry professionals can expect to see a large number of prominent athletes. Among them biathlon legend Ole Einar Bjørndalen, who will receive the ISPO Cup this year.

The largest industry gathering for the international sports business – ISPO Munich—will take place in just a few days. In addition to international trade visitors, many prominent athletes are expected to attend. These include Miriam Neureuther (German biathlete and cross-country skier), Britta Steffen (German swimmer), Robin Backhaus and Poul Zellmann (German swimmers), Julius Brink (German beach volleyball player), Peter Sagan (Slovak racing cyclist), Gina Lückenkemper (German track and field athlete), Nils Schumann (German track and field athlete) and Andrzej Bargiel (Polish ski mountaineer, mountaineer, and alpine runner). One of the highlights is the visit of skateboard legend Tony Hawk, who will hold a keynote address on Monday, February 4, as part of the “ISPO Digitize Pioneers Night”. An overview of all VIP visits is available online.

Award: Ole Einar Bjørndalen receives ISPO Cup 2019

Ole Einar Bjørndalen, one of the greatest athletes of our time, will be awarded the ISPO Cup on Tuesday, February 5. With eight Olympic gold medals as well as four silver and one bronze medal, he is the most successful biathlete ever at the Winter Olympics. A total of 95 World Cup victories in biathlon and cross-country skiing means that he is currently the greatest Winter athlete of all time. The ISPO Cup will honor his unique accomplishments and exceptional career.

New: Indoor Climbing Hub

Climbing has developed rapidly in recent years. Artificial climbing facilities in a variety of forms are widespread, especially in urban metropolises. The German Alpine Club has count 500 climbing halls in Germany alone—and the number is rising. In 2020, the sport will become an Olympic discipline for the first time. This is expected to draw greater attention and lead to growing interest. Under the motto “Climbing Gyms Insights,” the new Indoor Climbing Hub in hall A3 brings together various players to discuss these developments. Among other things, the program of speeches highlights the growth market in an international comparison and looks at the opportunities and challenges of the new Olympic format. More information and the program are available online.

Trend: sustainable products still in demand

A trend that has accompanied the sports and outdoor industry for many years and is becoming increasingly important in light of current developments is the manufacture of sustainable products. Many brands are already aware of their responsibilities and have incorporated a sustainable manufacturing process into their business. Experts will be talking about current developments and the urgency of this topic at the “CSR Hub & Sustainability Kiosk” in hall A4. These include representatives of non-governmental organizations such as Jon Cocino from One Percent for the Planet, Oliver Spies and Alexander Nolte from STOP! Micro Waste, Jeremy Jones from Protect our Winters, and Rainer Uhl from the Surfrider Foundation.

ISPO Munich presents the sports highlights of tomorrow (c) 2019 ISPO

Fitness and yoga are booming

There is no end in sight to the fitness boom. From CrossFit and urban running to functional training: interested visitors from the health & fitness sector will get their money’s worth in halls A5 and A6. In addition, the annual RUNNER’S WORLD running symposium will take place on February 4 for professionals in the running scene. Yoga also continues to enjoy great popularity. According to a study, the global market for yoga clothing is expected to grow by more than six percent a year. The large demand comes mainly from the U.S. The garments are used in variants of yoga such as acroyoga. Yogis at ISPO Munich can expect “flying asanas”—a combination of acrobatic playfulness, the healing energy of therapeutic flying, and the balance and connection of yoga. In addition, yoga professionals will be providing information about yoga for climbers or Liquid Flow Yoga on the Body & Mind stage. An overview of all workshops and live demonstrations can be found on the ISPO Munich website and in the event calendar.

New: get involved in esports up close and personal

For the first time, visitors to the fair can experience esports in person as part of ISPO Digitize in hall C6. Among other things, a friendly match will be taking place at the eSport Arena between Bayern Ballers Gaming, the esports team of FC Bayern Basketball, and the ISPO community. Experts, including those from Sport1, Nielsen, the German Football League (DFL), and 7Sports, will also be providing insights into the potential and growth market of this trend sport. As part of ISPO Munich Sports Week, the Munich-based sports retailer Globetrotter will be organizing an esports tournament on Wednesday, February 6, which will be streamed live in the exhibition halls.

Texprocess 2026: Automation, digitalisation and AI redefine textile processing

Making investment decisions in textile processing has become significantly more demanding. Increasing energy costs, a shortage of skilled labour and ongoing geopolitical uncertainties are compelling companies to focus on technologies that deliver clear gains in efficiency and process reliability. This applies equally to apparel manufacturing and to the processing of technical textiles and high-performance materials. As a result, modernisation initiatives are assessed more carefully – even as the need to upgrade production systems continues to intensify.

Techtextil 2026: Between innovation pressure & market reality

From 21 to 24 April 2026, Techtextil in Frankfurt am Main will once again become the central meeting point for the international technical textiles and nonwovens industry. Running in parallel, Texprocess will focus on the industrial implementation of textile processing technologies as the leading platform in this field. Together, the two trade fairs form a closely integrated presentation and working platform along the entire textile value chain – from material development to finished applications.

Between geopolitical pressure and industrial resilience

In this interview, Dr. Janpeter Horn (VDMA) discusses the current challenges facing textile machinery manufacturers, shaped by geopolitical tensions, regulatory developments and subdued investment. He also outlines why innovation strength, integrated solutions and strategic positioning remain key to global competitiveness.

Texhibition Istanbul signals stability and global connectivity

From 4 to 6 March 2026, Texhibition Istanbul once again brought together the international textile industry at the Istanbul Expo Center. Organized by İTKİB Fuarcılık A.Ş. in cooperation with the Istanbul Textile Exporters Association (İTHİB), the fair confirmed its role as one of the most important international sourcing platforms for fabrics and textile innovation. With 500+ exhibitors across 5 halls on 42,850 sqm, the trade fair attracted 19,325 visitors. Among them, 5.565 international visitors represented Europe, Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, North America, and other regions, underlining the show’s expanding global reach.

Val:ue Milan unveiled – a curated boutique business hub for high-end apparel textiles

Messe Frankfurt continues to expand its international textile network with the announcement of Val:ue Milan. Moving beyond the traditional trade fair model, Val:ue Milan debuts as a prestigious, boutique-style business hub exclusively dedicated to elected fabrics and accessories for apparel. Taking place from February 3 to 5, 2027, at The Mall in Porta Nuova, the event breaks away from conventional formats through a strictly curated environment designed for strategic networking. By bridging the gap between high-end international manufacturers and top-tier segment buyers, Val:ue Milan further strengthens the Group’s global portfolio with a unique, high-impact concept built around a refined and carefully selected offering.

Solving the Feedstock Gap: Unlocking Post-consumer Feedstocks for Textile-to-Textile Recycling in Europe

Fashion for Good launches Project FAE (Feedstock Activation Europe) to develop the sorting and pre-processing infrastructure needed to channel non-rewearable post-consumer textiles into textile-to-textile (T2T) recycling at scale. The project is a practical response to one of the most pressing problems in textile circularity: making post-consumer waste a viable, commercially competitive raw material for recyclers.

Techtextil & Texprocess 2026: Global benchmark for textile innovation – Performance Apparel Textiles takes centre stage at the opening

With 1,700 exhibitors from 54 countries, Techtextil and Texprocess 2026 showcase the full range of innovation within the international textile industry – from new materials and recycling technologies to finishing solutions and high-performance textile manufacturing and processing technologies. The opening press conference centred on a key theme where innovation is especially strong: Performance Apparel Textiles.

Circulose and CTA announce collaboration to enable lyocell fibers using CIRCULOSE® pulp

Circulose has announced an agreement with China Textile Academy Green Fibre (CTA) to offer lyocell fibers produced using CIRCULOSE® pulp. Producing lyocell from recycled pulp at commercial scale is an important step in making textile-to-textile recycled materials available across a wider range of textile applications.