Performance Days, the leading functional fabrics trade fair that ended in Munich last month, has recorded an increase in exhibitors and visitors numbers, compared to the previous edition.

With a key focus on sportswear, work wear and sports fashion, the exhibition displayed functional fabrics, membranes and coatings, laminates, padding and lining materials, equipment, ingredients such as yarns, prints, tapes, zippers, and more.

Visitors awarded top marks for the quality of the offer and the diversity of exhibitors, as well as for the informative level of the framework programme. One major attraction was the information concerning the topic of sustainable wool.

Participation

The exhibition was attended by 941 specialist visitors from 29 countries. The largest visitor groups outside of the EC came from USA, Colombia and Brazil, as well as China, India and South Korea.

Guests were able to learn about products displayed by 127 exhibiting companies from 21 countries. Some well-known exhibitors included 3M, Amaterrace, Nilit, Pertex, Pontetorto, PrimaLoft, Schoeller, Singtex, Südwolle, Sympatex, Thermore, Toray, YKK, and more.

One of the highlights of the exhibition was the tenth table at the Performance Forum with the special topic A Responsible Approach to Wool. The offer was highly appreciated by visitors, according to organisers, proven by the new visitor satisfaction figures: 92% of the visitors stated that the exhibition was a great success for them.

Performance Forum

The Performance Forum has become a real institution and is enjoying a growing popularity as the trend platform of the fair. Groundbreaking functional fabrics and accessories from more than 800 exhibitor submissions were displayed here in April.

Some 24 fabrics were exhibited on each of the nine themed tables, which corresponded to the textile product groups. A highlight was the information of the tenth special table and the Performance Gate, which were dedicated to the topic of sustainable wool. The motto A Responsible Approach to Wool was also addressed in the framework programme with informative lectures and a panel discussion.

Sustainability as central topic

Sustainability and environmental protection were the key topics at the trade fair. Thanks to its cooperation with ClimatePartner, the exhibition itself is already CO² free for the fourth time in line, which also highlights the environmentally conscious actions of its exhibitors. For this purpose, the function icon fluocarbon-free was created and introduced during the trade fair as a sticker, as well as in the form of a selection icon in the virtual fabric database, the Product Library.

In addition, the Eco Performance Award was presented for the first time, honouring technology, which is especially environmentally friendly.

This season, the award went to the Swiss company ATAG Advanced Technologies AG, which presented a fabric that is part Merino and is said to result in colours without water thanks to the new Drydye method, not only limiting pollution through sewage, but also requiring 50% less energy for the colouring process.

www.performancedays.eu