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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

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.

#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.

#Textiles & Apparel / Garment

Pets in fashion: functional and sustainable textiles find new market at Intertextile Apparel

China’s pet economy is booming, especially amongst younger generations, and pet apparel – from designer outfits to functional garments – was a RMB 3.5 billion (over USD 500 million) market in 2024, growing more than 20% annually¹. To help exhibitors harness this trend, Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Spring Edition 2026 will launch the Pet Boutique, presenting a range of innovative, sustainable materials that prioritise both functionality and comfort for pets.

More News on Sustainability

#Sustainability

GOTS version 8.0 released: advanced supply chain accountability, from fibre to finished product

Global Standard is pleased to announce the release of GOTS Version 8.0, the latest update to the world's leading processing standard for organic textiles. The updated Standard strengthens requirements for air emissions and waste management, as well as criteria for product safety. It introduces new provisions on circularity, microfibre management and updates in residue testing. Version 8.0 also elevates due diligence obligations and formalises governance requirements, including ESG disclosure, anti-corruption policies and conflict-of-interest safeguards, to support credible, responsible business conduct.

#Sustainability

The nova-Institute establishes new Renewable Feedstock Department to lay the groundwork for industrial defossilisation

The transition from fossil-based to renewable carbon – sourced from biomass, CO₂ utilisation and recycling – is the cornerstone of a climate-neutral chemical industry. The nova-Institute’s new department is dedicated to providing the essential data, analyses and strategic roadmaps required to secure a reliable future feedstock supply and make this transition a commercial and ecological reality.

#Sustainability

Textile Exchange unveils commitment-based pathway for members to accelerate responsible raw material production

Textile Exchange has unveiled further details about its new membership structure, designed to guide the fashion, textile, and apparel industry in a collective course of action toward preferred production systems for raw materials and fibers.

#Textile chemistry

Jeanologia urges industry to accelerate PP Spray phase-out following ZDHC Watchlist update

Potassium permanganate has officially entered the Chemical Watchlist of the ZDHC Foundation, signaling increased scrutiny and potential phase-out of one of the most hazardous chemicals still used in denim finishing. The inclusion confirms an industry shift that Jeanologia anticipated more than a decade ago.

Latest News

#Techtextil 2026

Knowledge that drives progress: Techtextil and Texprocess forums strengthen the global textile industry with a future-oriented programme

From AI-supported production optimisation and digital manufacturing solutions to circular technologies and bio-based high-performance materials: the Techtextil and Texprocess forums provide answers to the key challenges of the global textile industry with a curated content programme. As hubs for innovation and knowledge, they enhance competitiveness and offer orientation in changing markets. From 21 to 24 April 2026, Frankfurt is once again the global meeting point for thought leaders from industry, research and business.

#Techtextil 2026

Enhanced protection without added weight: Innovative technology for flame-retardant textiles doubles reaction time and ensures high wearing comfort

Flame-retardant textiles have long faced the same dilemma: the higher the level of protection, the greater the compromise in comfort, weight and breathability. This is especially important for workwear and protective clothing worn for long hours, where comfort is crucial to wearer acceptance and satisfaction. At Techtextil 2026 in Frankfurt, Swiss company Textilcolor AG will unveil pyroshell™, an innovative flame-retardant technology designed to tackle this challenge. Protection is provided by a graphite-based functional layer integrated into the textile structure, which doubles the reaction time before burns occur while significantly enhancing comfort. The material does not release any toxic fumes and offers textile manufacturers entirely new opportunities to design and produce protective and functional garments. It is also durable enough to withstand up to 50 industrial washes.

#Composites

JEC WORLD 2026 opens: Paris becomes the World Capital of composites

JEC World 2026 opens tomorrow, March 10, at Paris Nord Villepinte, bringing together the entire composites ecosystem for three days of exhibitions, conferences, technical sessions, strategic industry gatherings, and business meetings. As the “festival of composites”, JEC World is also a destination for a broad spectrum of other professional visitors, eager to discover how these advanced materials can offer sustainable solutions to their industries.

#Spinning

Barmag presents the next generation of POY production – energy-efficient and partial-automated

With POY 2.0, Barmag is introducing a completely redesigned spinning concept that takes the production of partially oriented yarn (POY) to a new level in terms of technology and economy. The solution, which was presented to a selected audience of experts for the first time at ITMA Asia + CITME 2025, was met with great enthusiasm: several yarn producers worldwide immediately expressed their interest in a pilot plant.

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