The trade fair is once again expanding its portfolio: In addition to the fabric innovations and trends for performance wear, footwear and accessories, the new “Bodywear Collective” will be showcasing trends from the bodywear segment for the first time.

After a successful summer fair with 3,000 visitors, the organizers are already in the middle of preparations for the upcoming winter fair, which will take place in Munich at October 23-24, 2024. Registrations are already in full swing, which once again confirms the important role of Performance Days, as the extensive range of information platforms continues to impress. Areas such as the Trend Forum, the Footwear Area, including its own Footwear Forum, the Innovation Zone, the packed Expert Talks program, the Sustainability Lounge, the Media Lounge, the Reality Zone with an exciting workshop area, and the newly integrated Technology Hub are now firmly established components of the trade fair.

In October 2024, the “Bodywear Collective” will round of the diverse facets of the bodywear industry and provide an insight into current and future fabric trends in the categories of swim- and dancewear, shapewear, sports underwear, and lingerie on its own platform.

Innovations in bodywear industry: “Bodywear Collective” opens up a new sector

Following the integration of its own Footwear Area in October 2023, Performance Days showcases trends and highlights from the bodywear sector with the “Bodywear Collective” thereby expanding its ofering to include another important segment. Behind the idea and implementation is the London Contour Experts Group, with a team of top consultants and industry experts.

Manufacturers from the various categories will present their highlights and innovations in fabrics and fibers at the “Bodywear Collective.” Within the new platform, all of the important information channels of Performance Days now come together.

A dedicated Bodywear Trend Forum will showcase selected material highlights, shedding light on groundbreaking technological advances from exhibiting suppliers. The Bodywear Innovation Zone focuses on real innovations and concepts that bridge the gap between established brands and emerging startups. At the heart is the Bodywear Tech Hub, which examines solutions for digitization processes and provides an insight into the future of 3D soft body technology, including AI-supported tools.

The “Bodywear Collective” is led by designer and industry expert Nichole De Carle. She is supported by London Contour Experts Managing Director Tony Ka Yiu Wang and trend expert Jos Berry, founder, and creative director of Concepts Paris.

 

New Focus Topic “Colorization – Chemistry is Everywhere:” The future of dyeing

The use of chemicals has solved the problem of fading colors in textiles, but it is now believed that synthetic dyes are one of the main reasons why some natural fabrics do not decompose as expected. However, the use of chemicals primarily ensures more robust yarns, water-repellent coatings, improved UV protection, brighter colors and even a softer feel, all considered to be positive characteristics of textiles.

The new Performance Days Focus Topic “Colorization – Chemistry is Everywhere” addresses precisely this issue and looks for sustainable solutions for dyeing textiles with a focus on innovative dye solutions without the use of harmful chemicals. Synthetic or natural. Cotton or polyester. Artificially produced cellulose fibers. When cotton is grown with synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides and then cleaned, dyed, and finished with even more chemicals: Are we then talking about a synthetic yarn? If Polyester has been treated so that it is biodegradable without leaving toxic residues, does that mean it is more “natural” than cotton? The new Focus Topic within the Performance Days Trend Forum looks for answers, alternatives to conventional dyeing techniques, analyses the status quo of natural dyeing processes and shows what is possible in the future.

 

Photo: Performance Days