[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

#ITM 2026

ITM 2026: The new geography of textile production

New production hubs are emerging across North Africa and Central Asia, while Türkiye is accelerating its transformation toward higher-value, technology-driven and more sustainable textile manufacturing.

#Research & Development

“Production is a product”

From technical textiles and AI-driven robotics to the limitations of textile circularity: Professor Dr Thomas Gries looks back on more than two decades of development at ITA Aachen. In the interview, he explains why production technology remains a decisive success factor, discusses international collaborations and innovation ecosystems, and shares his views on the transformation of production landscapes and the challenges facing an increasingly regulated industry.

#Knitting & Hosiery

“We need to move away from the price trap and return to a value-driven mindset.”

With its new Textile Innovation Center, KARL MAYER is sending a strong signal for innovation, collaboration, and the future of textile applications. In this interview, Karl Josef Mayer discusses new opportunities in warp knitting, the processing of staple fibres, recycling, the changing role of machinery manufacturers, and why the textile industry must once again focus more strongly on the value of textiles. by Oliver Schmidt

#Associations

“Innovation, resilience and international experience remain the great strengths of the Swiss textile machinery industry”

Geopolitical uncertainty, growing competitive pressure from China, new free trade agreements and the shift towards a circular economy are currently reshaping the global textile industry. In this interview, Cornelia Buchwalder discusses the current mood within the Swiss textile machinery sector, the industry’s distinctive innovative strength, new market opportunities in India and Asia, and the technological trends that could shape the upcoming trade fair cycle leading up to ITMA 2027.

More News on Textiles & Apparel / Garment

#Textiles & Apparel / Garment

Vietnam’s market evolution creates new sourcing opportunities at VIATT 2027

As Vietnam’s textile industry continues to upgrade and scale, new opportunities are emerging for suppliers of advanced raw materials, design-led fabrics, production technologies, and sustainability solutions. The Vietnam International Trade Fair for Apparel, Textiles and Textile Technologies (VIATT) will return 24 – 26 February 2027, presenting a cross-sector platform – spanning apparel, home and technical categories – for overseas companies to connect with manufacturers, brands, sourcing offices, retailers, and industry buyers from Vietnam, ASEAN, and beyond.

#Industry 4.0 / Digitalization

Jeanologia presents expanded EIM platform and COMMON GROUND collection at Kingpins Amsterdam

Jeanologia is presenting two approaches to textile product development at Kingpins Amsterdam on October 14–15: measuring the environmental impact of textile production and exploring new creative possibilities through garment finishing technologies.

#Recycling / Circular Economy

The Or Foundation, adidas, BESTSELLER, H&M Group, and Inditex launch Apparel Recovery Coalition, responding to impacts of post-consumer textile exports

adidas, BESTSELLER, H&M Group, Inditex and The Or Foundation, with support from Circle Economy, unveiled the Apparel Recovery Coalition (ARC). The coalition will explore how producer responsibility systems can support circular pathways such as reuse, upcycling, recycling, and responsible waste management in countries that receive large volumes of exported secondhand apparel.

#Textiles & Apparel / Garment

YKK subsidiary Golden Hill Tower Limited marks 25 years of operations in Myanmar

Golden Hill Tower Limited, a subsidiary of YKK Corporation, celebrated its 25th anniversary with a ceremony in Myanmar on September 21, 2026. The event brought together approximately 230 guests, including senior executives from the YKK Group, to commemorate the company's development since the launch of its serviced apartment business in November 2000.

Latest News

#Spinning

FET highlights advances in fibre spinning technology at Dornbirn Global Fiber Congress

Fibre Extrusion Technology Limited (FET) presented its latest developments in fibre spinning technology at the Dornbirn Global Fiber Congress in Austria in September 2026. In a presentation entitled “Spinning a good yarn”, Dr Jonny Hunter examined recent technological developments and challenges facing the fibre industry, highlighting the company's expanding range of specialised fibre extrusion and spinning systems.

#Heimtextil 2027

Textile performance for the global market: Heimtextil 2027 connects interior design, quality and global sourcing

With the new premium segment Carpets & Rugs Excellence, the Comfort & Connect area and the Heimtextil Trends 27/28, Heimtextil 2027 is sharpening its offering for a market under pressure. Today, textile products need to prove their quality, functionality and long-term value. From 12 to 15 January 2027, the leading trade fair for home and contract textiles and textile design showcases relevant innovations across the entire value chain: from fibres and yarns to designs by international studios and emerging talent, through to finished collections, functional contract textiles and complete interior solutions.

#Digital Printing

Blue Tomato accelerates agile retail apparel production with Kornit Digital

Kornit Digital (NASDAQ: KRNT), a global pioneer in on-demand digital fashion and textile production technologies, is highlighting how Blue Tomato, Europe’s largest board sports retailer, is using two Kornit Atlas MAX PLUS systems to support a more agile approach to in-house apparel production. The systems are helping Blue Tomato respond faster to changing consumer trends, produce high-quality apparel for its network of 86 retail stores across Europe and reduce inventory by printing only what the market demands.

#Textile chemistry

SANITIZED and RUDOLF join forces to extend textile performance and wearability

Long-lasting performance textiles require solutions that address a wide range of consumer expectations, from lasting freshness and comfort to reliable protection against the elements. SANITIZED and RUDOLF are highlighting their latest innovations, demonstrating how specialized textile technologies can support the functional durability and wearability of modern apparel.

TOP