[pageLogInLogOut]

#Textiles & Apparel / Garment

A+A 2025: innovations and know-how for tomorrow’s world of work

The market leaders of the industry are showcasing their latest products. Digital innovations are revolutionizing and optimizing personal protection – a true paradigm shift! Moreover, workwear is evolving beyond its protective and corporate identity function to become a stylish and professional outfit.
© 2025 Messe Düsseldorf / ctillmann
A+A 2025 has kicked off and is making Düsseldorf the centre of the international OSH world once again. Under the guiding theme “People matter” the world-leading trade fair for safety, security and health at work brings together over 2,340 exhibitors from 70 countries on 88,500 sqm net exhibition space in 13 exhibition halls making it the meeting point for the international expert community for the future of work again.

A+A connects innovative power with highest-level expert exchange. It combines the world-leading trade fair with a high-calibre congress that fuses practice-oriented know-how with latest scientific findings – setting the tone for tomorrow’s safe, healthy and sustainable world of work.

With its focal themes Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), workwear, the EXO PARK for robotics and exoskeletons, fire protection & emergency management as well as the Start-up Zone organised by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE), A+A covers the complete spectrum of safety, security and health at the workplace.

“A+A is synonymous with internationality, innovation and successful business. It’s a place where innovations become visible, valuable business contacts are forged and networks are deepened. With A+A and our international Occupational Safety and Health portfolio we are creating platforms where markets, brand and people jointly shape the future of work,” explains Marius Berlemann, Chief Operating Officer of Messe Düsseldorf.

Experience what makes the future of work safer and smarter

From smart tools and Virtual Reality to innovative workwear and PPE – A+A 2025 demonstrates impressively how technology, sustainability and design characterize tomorrow’s working environment.

At the EXO PARK in Hall 5 participants see and feel how exoskeletons and digital ergonomic tools make a real difference in the world of work. Manufacturers of industrial exoskeletons make available their systems for trying out live on site – a rare opportunity for gaining direct application experience and taking a look behind the technology.

A special highlight at the EXO PARK is the “Exoworkathlon-Live-Study” carried out by the Fraunhofer IPA: on a real concourse participants can experience themselves how exoskeletons reduce physical stress, optimise movement sequences thereby making an important contribution to health, efficiency and safety at work.

A+A 2025 also has compelling innovation in store for the segments Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Workwear: lightweight safety footwear, solar-powered hearing protection, intelligent respirators, or grip-revolutionising soles make progress graspable in the truest sense of the word. On the Fashion Show Stage in Hall 15 workwear becomes truly an experience with new aesthetics feeding on safety, comfort and brand awareness. With this A+A 2025 provides impressive proof of how the future is shaped – smart, safe and sustainable.

Sharing knowledge anew – hands-on, interactive, forward-looking

The 39th A+A Congress 2025 organised by the German Federal Association for Occupation Safety and Health (Basi e.V.) at Congress Center Düsseldorf Süd, presents itself with fresh, practice-oriented formats. Here the impacts of climate change, mental health, effective prevention strategies as well as the role of digitalisation and Artificial Intelligence in modern occupational safety are centrestage. In focus are small and medium enterprises (SMEs) who find impulses relevant to their daily practice at the Congress. Successful SMEs share their experiences and show how safety and health strategies can also be effectively implemented with limited resources – from risk assessments to sustainable PPE to digital solutions for everyday work.

“The International Congress for Occupational Safety and Occupational Medicine” is the centrepiece of A+A. Here scientific findings, practice and political impulses for a safe and healthy working environment come together,” says Dr. Christian Felten, Managing Director of Basi (German Federal Association for Occupational Safety and Health) and adds: “The 39th A+A Congress 2025 stands for prevention, sustainability and the opportunities that the digital transformation brings to occupational safety.”

Another highlight of A+A is WearRAcon Europe in Hall 1, organised by Fraunhofer IPA, the IFF of Stuttgart University and the Wearable Robotics Association (USA). The expert conference on wearable robotics will again enhance the programme with pioneering impulses for ergonomics, prevention and rehabilitation.

At the Trend Forum in Hall 5 research meets practice: experts present current findings while the start-ups at the BMWE YOUNG INNOVATORS stand show how safety is thought afresh – through innovations ranging from AI assistance systems and prevention to ergonomic tools and smart protective textiles.

Also located in Hall 5, “Deutsches Netzwerk Büro” (DNB) demonstrates practice-driven concepts for healthy, hybrid work and in cooperation with the Association of German Site Fire Services Werkfeuerwehrverband state-of-the-art safety technologies are demonstrated live in Hall 1.

A+A – World-leading trade fair with global portfolio

A+A is the world-leading trade fair for safety, security and health at work. Every two years it brings together international decision-makers, trade visitors as well as visionaries from industry, the skilled crafts, services, science and the political sphere in Düsseldorf. With its international trade fair portfolio in key markets such as China, Singapore, Thailand, Turkey and Japan as well as the accompanying International Congress for Occupational Safety and Occupational Medicine Messe Düsseldorf connects experts around the globe, drives innovations and shapes tomorrow’s world of work. Interested parties can find all information on A+A and its international portfolio at www.aplusa.de.



More News from A + A

More News on Textiles & Apparel / Garment

#Textiles & Apparel / Garment

Global Standard strengthens presence in Southeast Asia at VIATT 2026

Global Standard will participate in the Vietnam International Trade Fair for Apparel, Textiles and Textile Technologies (VIATT) 2026, organized by Messe Frankfurt, the first textile trade show in the APAC region this year. Global Standard will host a booth and Felica Shi will lead a seminar on Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). The trade fair will take place from February 26 to 28, 2026, in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

#Textiles & Apparel / Garment

VIATT 2026 to debut German Pavilion, strengthening European participation alongside key Asian textile hubs

Vietnam’s textile and garment sector continues to be a major contributor to the country’s economic growth, with export revenues expected to reach USD 46 billion in 2025, a 5.6% increase from 2024 . From 26 – 28 February, the Vietnam International Trade Fair for Apparel, Textiles and Textile Technologies (VIATT) is set to contribute to economic growth opportunities by accelerating digital transformation and green transition across the entire textile value chain. The upcoming edition will respond to the rising demand for advanced technologies and sustainable materials with the introduction of the German Pavilion, alongside strong exhibitor participation from key Asian sectors, as well as several high-profile fringe events.

#Sustainability

Ying McGuire becomes new CEO of Cascale

Cascale today announced the appointment of Ying McGuire as Chief Executive Officer, effective June 1, 2026.

#Europe

Antwerp Declaration community urges EU leaders to deliver emergency measures as Europe’s competitiveness crisis deepens

EURATEX, representing the European textile and fashion industry, joins the Antwerp Declaration Community’s call on EU Heads of State and Government to adopt emergency measures that restore industrial competitiveness and deliver tangible results for Europe’s manufacturing base in 2026.

Latest News

#Raw Materials

Esquel Group adds two new extra-long staple cotton varieties approved

Esquel Group’s Xinjiang Research & Development Center has successfully developed two new Sea Island cotton (Extra-Long-Staple cotton, ELS cotton) varieties named “Yuan Loong 37” and “Yuan Loong 42,” which have been officially approved and granted registration numbers. Both varieties have also obtained Plant Variety Rights certificates, marking another significant breakthrough for the Group in cotton breeding and commercial application.

#Weaving

Itema America acquires Palmetto Loom Reed, strengthening local manufacturing and service in the U.S.

Itema America, the U.S. subsidiary of Italy-based Itema Group, has acquired – through an Assets Purchase Agreement – Palmetto Loom Reed, a Greenville, South Carolina-based manufacturer of weaving reeds and one of the last remaining domestic producers of these precision components in the United States.

#Recycled_Fibers

Reju announces site selection for French Regeneration Hub in Lacq advancing Europe’s circular textile infrastructure

Reju, the textile-to-textile regeneration company based in France, announces the site selection for an industrial sized Regeneration Hub, in Lacq, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, on the Induslacq platform. Reju, a Technip Energies owned company, is deepening its roots in France through the development of this new Regeneration Hub.

#Functional Fabrics

lululemon introduces Unrestricted Power™ — A new sensation for strength training

lululemon (NASDAQ: LULU) has unveiled Unrestricted Power™, a new innovation platform engineered for heavy lifts and demanding gym sessions. The assortment, which launches in North America, is backed by thousands of hours of research and development, providing secure support without compromising comfort and mobility, enabling a distraction-free fit built to match every move.

TOP