#Textiles & Apparel / Garment

2018-01-19

ISPO Munich 2018: Highlights and dates

The latest fitness and outdoor trends will be presented from January 28–31. / Image credit: ISPO

From January 28 to 31, the international sports industry will be meeting at ISPO Munich. More than 2,700 exhibitors from across the globe will be presenting the latest from the outdoor, winter sports and fitness sectors.

On top of that, sporting greats such as skier Felix Neureuther, the swimming legend Franziska van Almsick and the four-time world champion of wind surfing Philip Köster will be in attendance. For the first time ever, the ISPO Munich Sports Week will take place with a trail run through the Olympiapark.

The largest industry gathering for the international sports industry—ISPO Munich—will take place in just a few days. Aside from the roughly 85,000 visitors and more than 2,700 exhibitors, there will be numerous prominent guests. Among them will be pro triathletes Anja Beranek and Nils Frommhold, former boxing world champion Henry Maske and the four-time world champion of wind surfing Philip Köster. More information about attending sporting greats and athletes at ISPO Munich are available here:

https://www.ispo.com/en/munich/program/celebrities

Trail run goes urban—Night run through the Olympiapark

This sports euphoria from January 27 to February 3 will also be perceptible beyond the trade fair halls during the ISPO Munich Sports Week, when numerous events will be organized for the first time in the Bavarian capital together with Munich retailers for one whole week. The opening will be the ISPO Munich Night Run through the Olympiapark on January 27. Among those taking part will be long-distance runner Sebastian Hallmann. Participants can choose between a five or ten kilometer course.

The highlight will be the Olympiaberg, a hill within the park that will need to be conquered. And it’s up there at its peak that participants will be rewarded with a view of Munich at night. Runners will also have the opportunity to test the latest ICEBUG shoes on the diverse terrain of the park. You can register for the run until Saturday, January 27.

In the days that follow, retailers, brand stores and fitness partners will transform Munich into an adventure tour. Sports enthusiasts can experience stars live and take part in exclusive free activities. Whereas Sport Scheck will be inviting participants to some blissful sunrise yoga, the adventurers Cathy O´Dowd and Staffan Björklund will be sharing their eventful outdoor projects during the Globetrotter Adventure Night.

You can find the complete and up-to-date program at:

http://www.ispo.com/sportsweek.

“Production is a product”

From technical textiles and AI-driven robotics to the limitations of textile circularity: Professor Dr Thomas Gries looks back on more than two decades of development at ITA Aachen. In the interview, he explains why production technology remains a decisive success factor, discusses international collaborations and innovation ecosystems, and shares his views on the transformation of production landscapes and the challenges facing an increasingly regulated industry.

“We need to move away from the price trap and return to a value-driven mindset.”

With its new Textile Innovation Center, KARL MAYER is sending a strong signal for innovation, collaboration, and the future of textile applications. In this interview, Karl Josef Mayer discusses new opportunities in warp knitting, the processing of staple fibres, recycling, the changing role of machinery manufacturers, and why the textile industry must once again focus more strongly on the value of textiles. by Oliver Schmidt

“Innovation, resilience and international experience remain the great strengths of the Swiss textile machinery industry”

Geopolitical uncertainty, growing competitive pressure from China, new free trade agreements and the shift towards a circular economy are currently reshaping the global textile industry. In this interview, Cornelia Buchwalder discusses the current mood within the Swiss textile machinery sector, the industry’s distinctive innovative strength, new market opportunities in India and Asia, and the technological trends that could shape the upcoming trade fair cycle leading up to ITMA 2027.

Next week’s focus: Intertextile Shenzhen & Yarn Expo Shenzhen fuse textile tradition with sustainable, digital trends

Fashion will not be left behind in one of the world’s undisputed tech and manufacturing capitals. Which is why next week, at Intertextile Shenzhen Apparel Fabrics and Yarn Expo Shenzhen 2026, the organisers have made special efforts to integrate textile topics such as materials innovation, holistic sustainability, digitalisation and AI. Yet, from 9 – 11 June at the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center, the platform also includes timeless tradition and heritage-inspired evolution in equal measure. Across both shows, over 600 exhibitors from 11 countries and regions are set to showcase everything from Peruvian alpaca wool fabrics to tea-derived fibres, while their fringe programmes will explore diverse solutions along the entire value chain.

Messe Frankfurt commits further to East Africa: three textiles trade fairs during Africa Sourcing and Fashion Week from 2027

Messe Frankfurt and its Texpertise Network continue their steady, successful trajectory in the region. As Africa Sourcing and Fashion Week (ASFW) opened today, Member of the Executive Board Detlef Braun announced that Messe Frankfurt is licencing its three leading international trade fair brands Texworld, Apparel Sourcing and Texprocess to Nairobi, Kenya for the first time in 2027. From now on, they will take place annually as part of the Africa Sourcing and Fashion Week (ASFW) Nairobi.

The future of textiles, the power of trade, and the summit of technology come together at ITM 2026

ITM 2026 International Textile Machinery Exhibition, one of the most prestigious organizations in the textile technologies sector, opens its doors to visitors between June 9-13. Expected to break records in terms of both exhibitor and visitor numbers, as well as the technological vision it presents, ITM 2026 will transform into a global trade hub with machine sales, and new business collaborations.

ATCO Hygienics, Uzbekistan, orders baby diaper production line from ANDRITZ

International technology group ANDRITZ has received an order from ATCO Hygienics to supply a new baby diaper production line for its plant in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The order is included in ANDRITZ’s order intake for the first quarter of 2026. Commissioning of the production line is scheduled for the end of 2026.

Nico Pedretti appointed as Managing Director Graf Group

As of June 1, 2026, Nico Pedretti has assumed the role of Managing Director Graf Group. With more than 20 years of international industrial experience and extensive expertise in Operations, Supply Chain Management, Finance and Controlling, he brings a broad range of leadership and business experience to support Graf’s continued success.