#Textiles & Apparel / Garment

2024-11-19

Sport, health, fashion: The highlights of ISPO Munich 2024

Rethink the world of sports and shape it together: that’s what ISPO Munich 2024 (3 to 5 December 2024) is calling for with this year’s main topics Retail & Sustainability, Health & Fashion, and Tech/AI & Sports Extended. With over 2,400 exhibitors, topic-specific hubs and an extensive programme featuring prominent speakers, the upcoming event will set new standards and show how technology, sustainability and health are revolutionising the sports industry. With a total of five conferences, the accompanying conference programme offers deeper insights into various topics.

From tennis brothers Alexander and Mischa Zverev and tennis icon Andre Agassi to German national football coach Julian Nagelsmann and Malaika Mihambo, who won a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, ISPO Munich 2024 not only features top athletes and coaches, but also hosts representatives from the worlds of politics and business. Judith Gerlach, Minister of State for Health, Care and Prevention, Dr Fiona Bull, Head of the Physical Activity Unit at the World Health Organization (WHO), and Arne Freundt, CEO of Puma, are among the highlight speakers of the supporting programme. Exciting panel talks, interviews, padel/pickleball show matches, as well as the ISPO and Brandnew Awards, make ISPO Munich a unique place for the sports industry to experience networking, inspirations and discoveries.

Digital transformation and innovations

Digitalisation is opening up new possibilities in sports. The Digitize & Retail Hub and the partner conference Sports Tech Nation, Europe’s leading summit for the sports technology industry, showcase the latest tech innovations that are currently transforming sports retail and the sports industry. A total of over 400 guest speakers at ISPO Munich and the five partner conferences, including presenters from SPORT MARKE MEDIEN, will share their insights into topics such as elite performance, smart venues, media & broadcasting, sports data and fitness tech. Visitors can look forward to inspiring talks and discussions that show how technology will shape the sport of the future. In the Digitize & Retail Hub, leading companies present solutions for digital transformation that open up new business potential for the industry and for sports retail.

The ISPO Award, ISPO Brandnew and ISPO Textrends platforms showcase innovative products, promising start-ups and groundbreaking material developments. This year, the award winners will once again be celebrated on the main stage and provide valuable orientation with regard to tomorrow’s trends and highlights.

Fusion of sport and fashion

The newest trends in the areas of athleisure, sports fashion and streetwear will be presented in a separate hall at this year’s ISPO Munich with the Zeitgeist by ISPO and ISPO 520M concepts. On the Zeitgeist by ISPO area, brands from ISPO’s partner fair Copenhagen International Fashion Fair (CIFF), which ranks among the most important platforms for the international fashion industry, will show sports fashion concepts that traditionally tend to come from the fashion sector.

Sustainable

The Sustainability Hub in partnership with Patagonia and the Material Lab are the hotspots for green innovations. Topics such as natural materials, climate action and circular economy will be covered here. Brands such as Adidas and Gore-Tex show how sustainable materials can be both high-performance and environmentally friendly. The utilisation of algae as a renewable raw material, which is presented in the Material Lab, is a particularly exciting development. The Ski Industry Climate Summit, one of the partner conferences initiated by ATOMIC, discusses concrete solutions for making winter sports sustainable and resource-efficient.

Topics such as EU guidelines on human rights and environmental standards will be explored in greater detail in the Supply Chain Forum. Here, companies have the opportunity to learn about the latest developments and challenges in supply chains and to exchange ideas with key players.

Health and sport combined

The health market is booming. Holistic concepts offer enormous potential for the sports industry as a well-known provider of fitness solutions. Creative ideas for sport and health will accordingly go hand in hand at ISPO Munich 2024. The fair provides new impulses for the fusion of sport and health in cooperation with therapie MÜNCHEN. And the German Trainers’ Summit offers trainers opportunities to expand their expertise, network and discover new approaches for their daily work with athletes.

Exciting topics related to corporate health will be discussed on the Yellow Stage, where the themes include Pilates equipment training in rehabilitation and the effects of inactivity on the sporting goods industry. Networking, exchange, best practices in the sports industry and beyond: these are also among the topics of the panel of the WFSGI at ISPO Munich. Together with representatives from companies, politics and the World Health Organisation, current statistics will be discussed and awareness of the issue will be heightened.

The padel boom and the growing popularity of pickleball not only provide inspiration and hope for more exercise, but also offer lucrative opportunities for investors and manufacturers. Visitors can experience the latest developments and products in the Pickleball & Padel Village. The central court provides space for exciting matches, show courses and product presentations. Professionals will also be on site to share their tips.

ISPO 2025: Dynamism, innovation, and strong impulses through close industry dialogue

Sports are becoming increasingly diverse and blending with many new areas. As a result, the sports industry is growing larger, customer demand is changing, and its fields of application are becoming more varied. New technologies, data-driven business models, sustainability, and international networking are shaping the market. In this dynamic environment, ISPO exhibitors demonstrate how change can be actively shaped.

EOG and Messe München decide to pause OutDoor 2025

“Sometimes, courageous decisions are needed”, said Christian Schneidermeier, who recently took on his new role as Director of the European Outdoor Group at the beginning of February. “But beyond being courageous, our decision not to hold OutDoor in 2025 is logical. Despite our best efforts – ranging from a new trade fair concept to thorough discussions and appeals – the number of registrations that we have received to date indicates that we will not achieve the goals set for OutDoor 2025.

EOG and Messe München establish Retail Advisory Council

Retailers are calling for more brands, and brands are seeking greater retailer participation at the trade fair. This initiative aims to facilitate proactive exchanges, forge new business contacts, and collaboratively advance the industry. The European Outdoor Group (EOG) and Messe München have established the Retail Advisory Council to directly gather feedback from international retailers on their needs and requirements for the trade fair concept. The council will play a crucial role in shaping OutDoor 2025, ensuring closer retailer involvement in its development.

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.

VAUDE eliminates PFAS from all products

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are now detectable worldwide – in drinking water, soil and the human body. These so-called “forever chemicals” are considered hazardous to health and potentially carcinogenic, as they do not break down and remain in the environment permanently. Despite these risks, PFAS are still used in a wide range of products. More than 15 years ago, VAUDE made a strategic decision to gradually eliminate PFAS from all product categories.

Sustainable, lightweight, and sound absorbing: Polyester-based front trunk solution for BEVs

As car manufacturers look to further reduce their carbon footprint, Autoneum has developed an innovative front trunk solution for battery electric vehicles (BEVs), made entirely from polyester-based textile. The Ultra-Silent Frunk offers significant weight reduction, improved acoustic and thermal insulation, and uses up to 70 percent recycled material, supporting sustainable and efficient vehicle design. Autoneum, global technology leader in acoustic and thermal management for vehicles, has already received orders for the new frunk from three major OEMs in Asia and Europe to be built in three BEV models. Series production for two BEVs has been underway in China and Germany since last year.

Modern testing methods for raw cotton

The 38th International Cotton Conference Bremen will take place from 25 to 27 March 2026 at the Bremen Parliament. This conference has traditionally stood for in-depth expertise and international exchange. The program will focus on technical innovations, market trends, and regulatory frameworks across the entire value chain – from agriculture to the circular economy. With high-profile speakers, the conference is regarded as the key meeting point for the global cotton industry. Today’s focus: Cotton quality and testing methods.

Rieter responds to higher raw material prices

Global political and economic developments have been leading to rising raw material and energy costs for some time. The textile machinery industry is also affected by this trend. Rieter machines and components consist to a large extent of steel, copper, aluminum and electronics. These materials in particular have seen higher demand and higher prices in recent months.

Stäubli demonstrates how innovation translates into real benefits for weaving mills at SITEX 2026

One of India’s most prominent textile industry events, SITEX 2026, is held from February 21 to 23 in Surat. Committed to empowering Indian weaving mills with state‑of‑the‑art solutions tailored to regional needs, Stäubli will present a selection of solutions designed for performance, reliability, and power efficiency. Through its weaving preparation, cam and dobby shedding solutions and Jacquard technologies, Stäubli highlights its global expertise tailored to the specific needs of the local market.