Source: www.fibre2fashion.com

Sleep better, recover faster, live more efficiently: The desire for optimisation has long since reached our homes. Under the title ‘Home-Maxxing – The Performance of Everyday Living’, Heimtextil Trends 27/28 show how our relationship with efficiency-driven thinking and technology is influencing the design of spaces and textiles. The more sleep, wellness, routines, materials and spaces are optimised, the stronger the desire for a home that does not demand even more of us.

The demands placed on spaces are becoming more varied. In an increasingly fast-paced and digital everyday life, they are expected to provide a sense of orientation, meet functional requirements and, at the same time, offer respite. ‘Home-Maxxing’ addresses this tension. Textiles regulate light, absorb sound or filter air. At the same time, there is growing demand for materials that are pleasant to the touch, durable and do not create additional pressure to optimise. Whether at home, in a hotel, in the workplace or in healthcare, interior design must strike a new balance between performance and human needs. Together with the Milan-based design platform Alcova, Heimtextil translates this development into three trend directions: Staged Competence, Inside, Out and Hyper Presence. They range from visibly staged technical performance and exposed fastenings to materials whose tactility, texture and longevity take centre stage.

After all this optimisation comes the counter-movement. Hyper Presence turns attention to what cannot be measured: how a fabric feels against the skin, how a material ages or the atmosphere created by texture. Beeswax-treated fabrics demonstrate how powerfully materials can engage the senses: when warmed, they release the natural scent of honey and propolis. The trend responds to constant digital overstimulation with a deliberate physical presence. Materials accordingly take centre stage: natural fibres, rough, richly textured surfaces, wool, leather and wood-based textiles engage the body and the senses. Creases, patina and signs of wear are not flaws, but part of their character.

The colours, too, leave the digital world behind. Deep rust, burnt orange, ochre, dusty pink and a pale, warm off-white evoke fire, clay and oxidised metal. The palette is warm, earthy and calming, making it the clearest counterpoint to the cool, technical aesthetic of the other two trend directions.
 

Source: www.fibre2fashion.com

Vietnam continues to strengthen its standing as a strategic hub in the global textile supply chain, positioning itself at the forefront of industry upgrading in Southeast Asia. In parallel, the Vietnam International Trade Fair for Apparel, Textiles and Textile Technologies (VIATT) will return to the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) from 24 – 26 February 2027, reinforcing its position as a comprehensive trade platform in ASEAN covering the entire value chain – from raw materials and fabrics to garments and advanced manufacturing technologies.

VIATT serves as a sourcing hub connecting regional manufacturers with global suppliers and buyers, with the 2026 edition welcoming nearly 460 exhibitors from 21 countries and regions and over 17,000 visits from 54 represented markets. The inaugural German Pavilion and Turkiye Zone expanded the fair’s global footprint, alongside returning pavilions and zones from China, Europe, India, Japan, and Taiwan. Over 350 business matching meetings connected exhibitors with buyers from over 20 countries and regions, reinforcing the fair’s role facilitating cross-border sourcing and partnerships – a role which is set to facilitate additional sustainable exchange at its upcoming edition.

Reflecting the market’s strategic priorities, VIATT 2027 will look to strengthen its cross-sector structure across Apparel Fabrics and Fashion, Home and Contract Textiles, and Technical Textiles and Technologies. By bringing together yarn suppliers, fabric manufacturers, garment producers and machinery and solution providers, the fair enables businesses to explore higher-value materials, upgrade manufacturing capabilities and reinforce sourcing networks across global markets.

Beyond the exhibition floor, the show has expanded its role as a platform for industry dialogue, with last year’s fringe programme addressing industry trends, sustainability regulations, digitalisation strategies, and trade developments. VIATT 2027 will continue to give a platform to future-focused topics and expert speakers, while sustainability will remain central through the Econogy Hub and Econogy Check, showcasing certified sustainable fibres, recycled materials, circular solutions, and traceability systems. This integrated approach supports exporters in meeting tightening ESG and compliance requirements in key global markets. As ASEAN’s textile landscape evolves, next year’s edition aims to serve as both sourcing hub and strategic meeting point for regional and international stakeholders seeking integrated, sustainable, and value-driven growth across the supply chain.
 

Source: www.fibre2fashion.com


Opening 25 August at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Autumn Edition 2026 prepares to welcome thousands of global industry players for three days of sourcing, networking, and trend forecasting. Spanning 240,000 sqm, this edition will feature over 3,500 exhibitors from 30 countries and regions, providing a comprehensive platform for fairgoers to explore new products, market directions, and business opportunities across the entire apparel textile value chain – with high-potential segments noticeably magnified.

International participation remains a core strength of the fair, highlighted by country and region pavilions from Hong Kong, India, Italy (Italian Trade Agency/Milano Unica), Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Turkiye, alongside the France Zone. New exhibiting countries including Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Malaysia, Nigeria, Norway, Sweden and Thailand will further expand buyers’ access to both emerging and established sourcing destinations.

The fair’s other key pillars will also be represented through focused showcases. Under Fashion Forward, the scent-infused Intertextile Directions Trend Forum will bring the A/W 2027-28 theme A QUEST FOR ESSENCE to life, featuring fabric and accessories samples from zones such as Beyond Denim, Functional Lab, and Premium Wool Zone. Accessories Vision will also present fashion-focused, advanced exhibitors such as Notape International (1.1-E53) and Bostik (1.1-B93).

To enhance business efficiency, this edition’s business matching programme will connect exhibitors with a curated group of around 50 VIP buyers, selected from the fair’s wider VIP buyer base and representing 14 countries and regions, including Australia, Brazil, India, Korea, Spain, the UAE, the UK, and the US. Around 330 pre-scheduled business matching meetings will be arranged according to buyers’ sourcing requirements and exhibitors’ product offerings.

In addition, nine international buyer delegations comprising approximately 180 delegates from Bangladesh, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Turkiye, Vietnam, and more, will attend guided delegation tours and dedicated matching sessions. To facilitate more opportunities for exhibitors, business matching with domestic buyers will also take place, and the Connect PLUS online platform will support engagement before, during, and after the show.

 

Source: www.fibre2fashion.com


The British Fashion Council (BFC) has announced Fashion Britain, a nationwide initiative aimed at broadening how fashion is experienced, celebrated and invested in across the United Kingdom, with a focus on extending opportunity and cultural participation beyond London.

The initiative is positioned as a major milestone in the BFC Strategy 2030: Access, Creativity and Growth. It is designed to bring together cities, cultural institutions, retailers, designers, businesses, educators and local communities on a platform connecting creativity, culture and commerce to unlock opportunities for designers, strengthen local creative economies and inspire the next generation of talent.

BFC has unveiled Fashion Britain, a nationwide platform to widen fashion investment, participation and visibility beyond London for designers. The initiative links cities, retailers, designers, educators and cultural institutions to support local creative economies and talent pipelines. It launches in September in six UK cities, with ELLE UK joining the National Designer Panel Series.

From August 25 to 27, 2026, two complementary industry events will take place simultaneously in Rzgów: Trends Expo and Sourcing Expo. However, these will not be two separate projects operating alongside each other. Their joint organisation has been designed as one coherent business model presenting the entire product journey – from design and production, through the finished collection, to contracting and wholesale distribution.

Both events will be combined within one exhibition space. One part of the hall will be dedicated to Trends Expo, while the other will host Sourcing Expo. This division is not merely organisational. It reflects the actual structure of the fashion industry. On one side, manufacturers, brands and distributors will present their finished collections. On the other, sewing factories, subcontractors, cutting rooms, pattern-making studios and companies providing services essential to the creation of those products will showcase their capabilities.

Trends Expo represents the commercial side of the industry. The fair brings together manufacturers of women’s, men’s and children’s clothing, lingerie, sportswear, footwear, leather goods, accessories, packaging and e-commerce solutions. Exhibitors meet boutique and online store owners, retail chain buyers, wholesalers, distributors and representatives of the social selling sector. Previous editions have attracted more than 407 exhibitors from 35 countries and over 8,327 industry visitors, 30% of whom were international guests.

At the heart of this ecosystem is Wholesale Center PTAK, home to more than 2,000 manufacturers and importers, with approximately 9 million customers from Poland and abroad each year. More than 43,000 companies connected directly and indirectly with the clothing industry operate around the centre.

This is why the key message behind the entire concept is:

“PTAK is not only about trade. It represents the entire sourcing process – from design and material selection, through production, sewing and finishing, to the sale of the finished product.”

Trends Expo, Sourcing Expo and Wholesale Center PTAK therefore create one complete ecosystem. Sourcing Expo answers the question: who will manufacture the collection and how will it be produced? Trends Expo demonstrates: what can be offered to the market and who can it be sold to? Wholesale Center PTAK, meanwhile, provides a permanent business base of manufacturers, importers, buyers and distributors.

Each element naturally leads to the next, and together they present the complete picture of the contemporary fashion industry – from the first design concept, through production and the finished collection, to real commercial orders.

 

Source: www.fibre2fashion.com


The British Fashion Council (BFC) has announced Fashion Britain, a nationwide initiative aimed at broadening how fashion is experienced, celebrated and invested in across the United Kingdom, with a focus on extending opportunity and cultural participation beyond London.

The initiative is positioned as a major milestone in the BFC Strategy 2030: Access, Creativity and Growth. It is designed to bring together cities, cultural institutions, retailers, designers, businesses, educators and local communities on a platform connecting creativity, culture and commerce to unlock opportunities for designers, strengthen local creative economies and inspire the next generation of talent.

BFC has unveiled Fashion Britain, a nationwide platform to widen fashion investment, participation and visibility beyond London for designers. The initiative links cities, retailers, designers, educators and cultural institutions to support local creative economies and talent pipelines. It launches in September in six UK cities, with ELLE UK joining the National Designer Panel Series.

Fashion Britain is the latest strategic initiative under the BFC Strategy 2030 and follows the pilot launch of Fashion Assembly, which takes fashion education into schools across the country, the British Fashion Council said.

Laura Weir, chief executive, British Fashion Council said: "British fashion is one of our greatest cultural exports, yet for too long participation has been concentrated in too few places. Fashion Britain represents a fundamental shift in how we think about our role as the British Fashion Council. If we are truly Britain's fashion council, then our responsibility is to champion creativity wherever it exists, create opportunity, inspire ambition and ensure more people can see themselves in our industry, regardless of where they live."

Laura Weir, chief executive, British Fashion Council added: "Fashion Britain is about decentralising fashion, not by diminishing London's global importance, but by recognising that the future of British creativity depends on strengthening the connections between every part of the UK. Just as our leading national cultural institutions belong to the whole country, fashion should be experienced, celebrated and invested in across the whole country too. This is the beginning of that ambition."

The BFC said Fashion Britain will launch in September across six cultural cities: London, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Bristol and Edinburgh. Each city will deliver a curated programme of public events, designer conversations, cultural collaborations and retail experiences that reflect local identity while linking communities to the wider fashion industry.

As part of the first programme announcements, the BFC is partnering with ELLE UK to launch the National Designer Panel Series, a programme of live conversations bringing together leading designers, industry voices and emerging talent. The series will take place across the participating cities and is intended to allow audiences to engage directly with people shaping British fashion while fostering dialogue, inspiration and new connections.

In the longer term, the BFC said the initiative will strengthen local creative economies, help develop the next generation of fashion talent and create pathways for designers and creatives to build sustainable careers within their own cities.