#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

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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.

KARL MAYER presents a textile TEXTRONIC® innovation at ITM 2026

With highly efficient machines and continuous textile innovations, KARL MAYER underscores its role as a reliable partner for discerning top-tier customers. Just in time for ITM 2026 in Istanbul, the industry leader is introducing a true innovation: an eyelash lace with its characteristic fringed look – combined with a previously unattainable 4-way stretch. While the established fabric could until now only be produced as rigid version or with one-dimensional stretch, the new elasticity in both dimensions expands the possibilities for cross-band panel fabrics.

DYNEEMA® and NP Aerospace advance personal protection for military servicewomen

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Textile Exchange publishes comprehensive polyester LCA study

Textile Exchange has released a new Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study on polyester, providing detailed data on the environmental impacts of both virgin and recycled polyester production. The study aims to strengthen understanding across the fashion, textile and apparel industries and support more informed decision-making regarding polyester sourcing and production.