[pageLogInLogOut]

#Textiles & Apparel / Garment

MUNICH FABRIC START & BLUEZONE: “Being special pays off.“

© 2023 MUNICH FABRIC START
Nothing ventured, nothing gained - especially now. The international fabric trade show MUNICH FABRIC START (24 to 26 January 2023), the international denim trade show BLUEZONE and KEYHOUSE (24 and 25 January 2023) got off to a successful start with around 900 selected international producers. The first hours since the opening have already been promising – the flow of buyers, product managers, designers and decision-makers from the industry was great and the mood was excellent in the icy Munich winter weather.

The international fabric trade show MUNICH FABRIC START, the international denim trade show BLUEZONE and the innovation hub KEYHOUSE are open: in a volatile market environment, Munich Fabric Exhibitions GmbH demonstrates reliability, relevance and strength with its existing formats and numerous new offerings.

The new colour and material trends, innovations and inspirations for Spring.Summer 2024 were shown on a total exhibition area of around 42,500 square metres, divided into eight areas and elaborately staged trend forums and sample areas. Especially in times of uncertainty, the trends for the new season encourage us to be open to new things and to move forward. Not exuberantly, but with care and thoughtfulness - "DARE & CARE", in keeping with the motto of the seasonal leitmotif of MUNICH FABRIC START.

“We are starting the Spring.Summer 24 season with courage and confidence and have every reason to do so: we are well positioned and both the MUNICH FABRIC START, the BLUEZONE and KEYHOUSE are very well booked. Demonstrating reliability, relevance and strength - that's what matters now,“ said Sebastian Klinder, Managing Director MUNICH FABRIC START during the opening of the shows at MOC, KEYHOUSE and in the Zenith Hall today.

“Our task is to always be surprising, innovative and at the same time market- and solution-oriented. Once again, we have succeeded in this. In spite of all the difficulties in the market, we offer the usual high service, create new experiences and provide a business, trend and information platform for the strong and relevant partners in the industry. That is what makes us so special. Being special pays off,“ adds Frank Junker, Partner & Creative Director of MUNICH FABRIC START.

NEW AT MUNICH FABRIC START

MUNICH FABRIC START and BLUEZONE have once again succeeded in doing just that with numerous new offerings at the current event for Spring.Summer 24: the sourcing of sustainable material developments and solutions for digitalisation from product to production will be even more in focus. New is a combined area for sustainability and digitalisation in the middle of the MOC.

In one of the most frequented trade fair areas – Hall 2 at the MOC – the Assyst Experience will be presented for the first time on an area of around 300 square metres. Together with technology partners and in lectures and panel discussions, the fashion tech market leader will show the possibilities of digitalisation for the fashion industry. Directly adjacent and now even more centrally located is the ReSource area, which is becoming increasingly important for the industry. With around 700 samples, the area for innovative fabrics and add-ons that are certified organic, bio-based, recycled, recyclable or from regenerative sources has grown significantly compared to previous seasons.

The area for the international DESIGN STUDIOS with fabric designs and new developments for prints has moved back to the 1st floor. As a new winter concept, MUNICH FABRIC START has also launched THE SOURCE Studio with 30 selected manufacturers and their products and services for apparel sourcing.



BLUEZONE DISCOVERY: the journey to planet denim

BLUEZONE is once again completely booked up with around 90 international denim, street and sportswear suppliers in Halls 6 and 7. With leading players like ISKO, Prosperity Textile and Ereks and newcomers like Hub1922, Saitex and Strom it is extremely well positioned this season.

“The first day of the fair today, Tuesday, already showed how strong the momentum for denim is, how innovation-driven this market segment is and how strong its influence is on the entire fashion business. BLUEZONE is not only a highly relevant platform for the blue community, but also for non-denim professionals, for trend and material research, vertical denim excellence, and for the fashion industry as a whole,“ says Sebastian Klinder.

The central theme of BLUEZONE is DISCOVERY. DISCOVERY takes the fashion community of the blue planet earth on a journey to planet denim and invites them to discover the new and unknown. Trends in the CONCEPT ZONE, sustainability, digitalisation and the latest production processes in the SEMINAR ZONE are the fuels of the future. Strong cooperations are more in the foreground than ever: including the new edition of the cooperation with the Transformers Foundation with two expert panels as well as the appearance of THE ITALIAN LUSTER with Italian manufacturers of the denim and sportswear industry along the entire value chain. Another highlight is the live performance of Brother's direct-to-garment printer – the next step in textile finishing of industrial printing on denim pieces.

The KEYHOUSE with its new duration over two days is also fully occupied and features numerous new exhibitors, including Circular Fashion, Dystar and WINT Design. Trend-setting smart textiles, future fabrics and new technologies will be shown on more than 1,000 square metres – whether in terms of sustainability, circular economy, digitalisation, traceability, technology or finishing. Highlights of the Innovation Hub include the Sustainable Innovations Forum and the TRENDLECTURES area with an exclusive programme of keynotes, discussion rounds and trend presentations.

Full event calendar

With over 50 speakers in a total of four forums, the range of talks at MUNICH FABRIC START, BLUEZONE and KEYHOUSE is larger than ever this season. Highlights include talks and panels by trend researcher David Shah, Director of Policy & EU Affairs Orchestrator of EIT Climate KIC, Lisa Lang, Transformers Foundations, DMI, Peclers Paris, Pantone, Assyst, Fashion Revolution, the lecture series THE STATUS QUO OF FASHION and many more.

The complete supporting programme with all speakers, dates and venues is available at www.munichfabricstart.com/en/the-show/.

Tonight it's party time. From 18:30 the organisers invite you to the MUNICH FABRIC START Club Night – the party in the Motorworld/Dampfdom with drinks, snacks and beats by resident DJ Jon Basel feat. Geschwister Schall.

Further information on the course of MUNICH FABRIC START, BLUEZONE and KEYHOUSE as well as an outlook on the upcoming events in the summer can be found in the final report following the current shows.




More News from TEXDATA International

#Texprocess 2026

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

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.

#Techtextil 2026

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.

#Texprocess 2026

Between investment restraint and modernization pressure

Texprocess 2026 takes place in a complex market environment shaped by uncertainty and innovation pressure. In this interview, Elgar Straub (VDMA) explains why the trade fair is particularly relevant this year and which technologies are driving efficiency and competitiveness.

More News on Textiles & Apparel / Garment

#Textiles & Apparel / Garment

Messe Frankfurt commits further to East Africa: three textiles trade fairs during Africa Sourcing and Fashion Week from 2027

Messe Frankfurt and its Texpertise Network continue their steady, successful trajectory in the region. As Africa Sourcing and Fashion Week (ASFW) opened today, Member of the Executive Board Detlef Braun announced that Messe Frankfurt is licencing its three leading international trade fair brands Texworld, Apparel Sourcing and Texprocess to Nairobi, Kenya for the first time in 2027. From now on, they will take place annually as part of the Africa Sourcing and Fashion Week (ASFW) Nairobi.

#Knitting & Hosiery

“We Believe in the Value of Textiles”: Successful Opening of the KARL MAYER TEXTILE INNOVATION CENTER

KARL MAYER inaugurated its new, state-of-the-art TEXTILE INNOVATION CENTER (TIC) with a four-day opening week from April 21 to 24. The highlight of the week was the grand opening on Thursday, which drew a strong turnout from the international textile industry: around 220 customers, brands, and partners from across the textile value chain came to the company’s headquarters in Obertshausen for a first-hand look at the new high-tech development environment and lively exchange with industry peers.

#Textiles & Apparel / Garment

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.

#Textiles & Apparel / Garment

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.

Latest News

#Digital Printing

Kornit Digital launches Konnections 365

Kornit Digital (NASDAQ: KRNT) (“Kornit” or the “Company”), a global pioneer in sustainable, on-demand digital fashion and textile production today announced the launch of Konnections 365 - a year-round movement designed for the people moving the apparel, print, and retail industries forward. The strategy is built on the overwhelming success of Konnections 2026 held in Hollywood, Florida, featuring more than 500 customers, partners, and collaborators who together are driving the future of apparel and textiles.

#Techtextil 2026

Techtextil 2026: KARL MAYER impresses as an innovative sector partner

KARL MAYER looks back with satisfaction on its participation in Techtextil 2026. From April 21 to 24, the international industry leader used the trade show in Frankfurt to meet with numerous key customers at its booth and, at the same time, establish many new contacts. Most visitors came from Germany, followed by major markets such as Poland, the United Kingdom, Turkey, France, and Portugal.

#Associations

BTMA backs global growth while investing in future UK leaders

As one of a number of new initiatives launched this year, the British Textile Machinery Association (BTMA) is launching the UK-India Textile Machinery Coalition. The UK-India Free Trade Agreement, signed in July 2025, has implications that extend across sourcing, competitiveness and long-term trade dynamics, believes BTMA CEO Jason Kent.

#Raw Materials

China projected to increase cotton production, yields, and imports in 2026/27

World cotton production in the 2026/27 season is projected at 25.9 million tonnes, exceeding global consumption of 25.2 million tonnes, according to the May 2026 issue of Cotton This Month. That means both production and consumption are expected to remain close to current season levels, while global cotton trade is projected to decline by 2.7% to approximately 9.6-9.7 million tonnes.

TOP