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#Sustainability

Award for sustainability: Michael Spitzbarth from Bleed is Designer of the Year 2022

Together with the VDMD – Network of German Fashion and Textile Designers – Messe Frankfurt will award the Designer of the Year for sustainable collections at Neonyt Lab. On Saturday, 25 June 2022, at 3 p.m., the Sustainability Award will be presented to Michael Spitzbarth, Founder & CEO of Bleed, at Union Halle in Frankfurt's East end district.

Since 2018, the award has been presented by the VDMD to designers who have dedicated their designs and collections to the increasingly important topic of sustainability, use sustainable materials and produce responsibly. This means that the companies must be managed in a holistically sustainable manner, this also includes their supply chains, for example. Previous award-winning designers are Sophia Schneider-Esleben, Anke Frese-Brammer and Laura Krettek. This year's award winner, Michael Spitzbarth, founded his outdoor and streetwear label Bleed in 2008 – his aspiration: to inspire a sustainable lifestyle that is fun and easy to integrate into daily life. After his studies in textile design, he worked for several years as a freelancer for different clothing companies. During this time he gained deep insights into the conventional textile industry and decided to change something. “Nature had bled enough and it had to stop,” says Michael Spitzbarth, Founder & CEO of Bleed. “And just like that, not only the name but also the brand were born.”

Michael Spitzbarth, Founder & CEO, Bleed © 2022 Messe Frankfurt
Michael Spitzbarth, Founder & CEO, Bleed © 2022 Messe Frankfurt


Save the Date: Award ceremony during the Neonyt Lab.

The award ceremony will take place on Saturday, 25 June 2022, at the Union Halle in Frankfurt am Main on the Fashionsustain stage during Neonyt Lab. The award will be presented jointly by Olaf Schmidt, Vice President Textiles & Textile Technologies of Messe Frankfurt, and René Lang, President of VDMD. “We are delighted that the Sustainability Award presented by VDMD is again going to such an outstanding designer this year,” says Olaf Schmidt. “Bleed has been exhibiting at the Neonyt Trade Show for a number of years, and we have a long-standing friendship. Michael Spitzbarth and his team operate in a climate-neutral way, produce 'toxic free' fashion collections and have managed to win people for the green wave for more than a decade without appointing any fingers.” Lisi Maier, appointed member of the German Federal Government's Council for Sustainable Development and Director of the Federal Foundation for Gender Equality, will give a laudatory speech at the award ceremony.

Lisi Maier and Michael Spitzbarth will both be available for interviews afterwards. Interested media representatives should register at http://neonyt.com/accreditation and contact the VDMD in advance at info@vdmd.de




Frankfurt Fashion Week – shows sustainable Fashion, Design & Art

In the week from 20 to 26 June 2022, the city of Frankfurt am Main will be dominated by sustainable fashion, design & art. Numerous events will take place throughout the city under the umbrella brand Frankfurt Fashion Week. Exhibitions, fashion shows, talks, presentations and open studios invite all interested citizens to explore and experience fashion and all topics related to sustainable design. Frankfurt Fashion Week thus also offers a marketing platform for the regional fashion and design scene as well as the cultural and creative industries. Parallel to Frankfurt Fashion Week, Messe Frankfurt is organising the Neonyt Lab from 24 to 26 June 2022 in the Union Halle, which is aimed at consumers and fashion professionals interested in sustainability. In addition, from 21 to 24 June 2022, Messe Frankfurt will be bringing together the globally oriented B2B events Techtextil, Texprocess and Heimtextil Summer Special, which will highlight themes of particular relevance to the international fashion and living sector. Frankfurt Fashion Week is a multi-layered, easily accessible and cross-generational offer of the city of Frankfurt am Main.

The Neonyt Lab will take place from 24 to 26 June 2022 at Union Halle in Frankfurt am Main.

Visitor ticket:

• neonyt.com/ticket




More News from Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd.

#Home Textiles

Dual record participation, sleep and sustainability in focus as Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles concludes for spring

Spring Edition 2026 concluded on 13 March at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), achieving record highs in both exhibitor and visitor numbers. Nearly 380 exhibitors from six countries and regions connected with more than 28,500 visitors (12% increase[1]) from 83 countries and regions. As well as higher international participation from countries such as Portugal and Uzbekistan, the fair gathered major regional industry clusters from China, showcasing excellent functional products – particularly within the expanding sleep economy – that blend cutting-edge production with evolving consumer demands for stylish, comfortable, and sustainable living solutions. This dynamic mix was vividly showcased across Hall 5.2, cementing the Spring Edition’s role as a noteworthy platform for industry advancement.

#Textiles & Apparel / Garment

Design, innovation and sustainability propel VIATT 2026’s expanding role in ASEAN textile sourcing

At its third edition, the Vietnam International Trade Fair for Apparel, Textiles, and Textile Technologies (VIATT) further reinforced its role as a key sourcing and business platform for ASEAN’s textile industry. The three-day fair welcomed over 17,000 visits from 54 countries and regions, and featured over 460 exhibitors from 21 countries and regions across 18,000 sqm. The 2026 edition was marked by the introduction of new international pavilions and zones, broadening the fair’s sourcing scope across new geographies and product categories. The fringe programme, headlined by the debut Trend Forum, further distinguished VIATT as the region’s most integrated textile trade platform – uniquely spanning the entire value chain.

#Home Textiles

Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles – Spring Edition opens next week to spotlight smart textiles, sleep trends and sustainable sourcing

The home textiles industry is ready to gather in Shanghai next week as Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles – Spring Edition 2026 prepares to open at the National Exhibition and Convention Center from 11 – 13 March. Bringing together more than 360 exhibitors from six countries and regions, the fair will showcase an extensive array of home textiles, including bedding, towelling, carpets, home textile technologies, textile design and more, serving as a forward‑thinking hub where design, sustainability and smart living converge.

#Home Textiles

Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles returns in August as global sourcing hub and trend barometer for home textiles industry

Following the conclusion of Heimtextil last month, the flagship fair in Messe Frankfurt’s global home and contract textiles portfolio, Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles – Autumn Edition will return 18 – 20 August 2026 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai). Building on the momentum generated in Frankfurt, the Shanghai fair will reinforce its position as the foremost home and contract textile platform in Asia – successfully bridging the gap between East and West, and connecting global product trends, supply-chain shifts, and buyer demand in one marketplace.

More News on Sustainability

#Sustainability

A new standard to combat plastic waste in forests

With DIN SPEC 35808 “Tree Shelter for Forestry Applications,” the testing and research service provider Hohenstein, in collaboration with Rottenburg University of Forestry, as well as forestry authorities and industry partners, has established a clear framework for bio-based and fully biodegradable tree shelters. The pre-standard defines requirements and practical testing methods designed to reduce plastic waste in forests and strengthen the long-term protection of soil and the environment.

#Denim

Denim moves towards sustainability

EIM (Environmental Impact Measurement), the global reference platform for measuring the environmental impact of garment finishing, presents the second edition of its annual report Denim Industry Progress & Insights 2025. The study analyses over 100,000 real denim finishing processes, providing an accurate and up-to-date view of the industry’s evolution towards more sustainable models.

#Recycling / Circular Economy

Europe’s textile future at a turning point: New 2030 Circularity Blueprint aims to scale recycling and unlock investment opportunities

The EU textile system is at a critical crossroads. Today, less than 1% of discarded garments are recycled into new garments, despite EU-wide obligations for separate collection. In response, Global Fashion Agenda (GFA) is launching the 2030 Circularity Blueprint, in partnership with ReHubs. This ambitious initiative is designed to support the transformation of the EU textile ecosystem to advance textile-to-textile recycling and drive the transition to a circular economy.

#Sustainability

Number of GOTS-certified facilities grow 15% globally as demand for credible sustainability standards continues to strengthen

Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certification continued to grow in 2025, with nearly 18,000 certified facilities worldwide, despite ongoing geopolitical uncertainty and rapidly evolving regulatory requirements across global textile supply chains.

Latest News

#INDEX 2026

ANDRITZ at INDEX ’26: Driving sustainability with next-generation nonwoven technologies

From May 19-22, ANDRITZ Nonwoven & Textile is presenting its innovative solutions for the nonwoven & textile industry in Geneva, Switzerland. ANDRITZ will focus on technologies for sustainable and durable nonwovens, converting, sustainable fiber processes, textile recycling, and life-cycle services on booth 2114 in hall 02.

#INDEX 2026

INDEX™26: World’s leading nonwovens exhibition presents groundbreaking product launches, exclusive seminars and immersive experiences

From 19 to 22 May 2026, 620 exhibitors from 44 countries will gather in Geneva at Palexpo for INDEX™26. The exhibition aims to demonstrate how the future of technical materials will increasingly be shaped by collaborative supply chains and integrated innovation across the nonwovens industry. This year’s edition focuses not only on individual technological advances, but also on how cooperation throughout the value chain can enhance the performance, sustainability and value of nonwoven solutions.

#INDEX 2026

The LYCRA Company launches LYCRA® ADAPTIV fiber for nonwovens, advancing comfort and fit in disposable hygiene at INDEX™ 26

The LYCRA Company, a leader in innovative and sustainable fibers for apparel and personal care, today announced the official global launch of LYCRA® ADAPTIV fiber for nonwovens at INDEX™ 26, in Geneva, Switzerland, May 19–22. This breakthrough stretch fiber, already trusted by leading global apparel brands, now ushers in a new era of comfort, fit, and performance for baby diapers, disposable hygiene products, adult incontinence, and feminine care.

#INDEX 2026

Innovations for today – solutions for tomorrow: Trützschler Nonwovens at INDEX™ 2026

From 19 to 22 May, Trützschler Nonwovens will present itself at booth 1641 as a long-term partner to its customers. The focus will be on new products for all nonwoven processes, further developments of the digital working environment T‑ONE, and an expanded service portfolio.

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