Innovative prints in 3D technology are meeting with great interest
Munich Fabric Start, a bi-annual trade event, presents a vast selection of collections ranging from plains to haute couture fabrics and accessories. Sebastian Klinder, managing director, Munich Fabric Start shares insights about the German apparel market and provides updates of the company's forthcoming trade show.
How large is turnover in the international apparel industry?
Global turnover generated by the international apparel industry in 2014 stood at approximately €1 trillion in 2014. Despite a slight drop posted by luxury goods this figure confirms the dynamism of this multi-layered and impulse-generating sector of the textile industry.
What were the most important trends for colours, prints and fabrics for Autumn/Winter 17/18?
As in the past, there is not just one trend here but multi-layered tendencies and fashion tableaux. Innovative prints in 3D technology are meeting with great interest. Furthermore, the focus lies on integrated functional aspects for both wool and highly topical jerseys. Fabrics - and the clothing they are made into - must offer added value. Wear comfort, fashion and function form a whole here that ultimately decides on consumer acceptance. The range of colour trends for the 17/18 Autumn/Winter season is surprisingly large. Multi and bi-colours are exciting. Alongside black and khaki camel and white as well as a variety of red, blue and violet shades are highly rated.
What are the kinds of sustainable fabrics that Munich Fabric Start will focus on?
In addition to focusing on varied fashion trends our suppliers look to the presentation of future-oriented concepts. The focus here increasingly lies on the broad-based innovations of bio-recycling and on resource efficiency.
Please shed some light on the German apparel industry.
The German textile and apparel industry achieved total turnover in 2015 of €32 billion. 60 per cent of this was accounted for by the textile sector and 40 per cent by the fashion sector. This means Germany continues to lead in Europe with turnover growth totalling 1.9 per cent, according to the textile and fashion association Gesamtverband textil+mode. Here the 3.4 per cent rise in industrial textiles is pleasing to note.
What were the highlights of the recently concluded VIEW Premium Selection?
VIEW Premium Selection lists first among the international fabric fairs. This was once again confirmed by the great interest shown by leading creative teams from the entire German ready-to-wear sector as well as from well-known brands and designers. Also positive is the presence of renowned visitors from abroad like Alexander McQueen, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Akris, Daks and Norse Project. The high degree of information from the over 300 already far developed - and therefore convincing - collections of our partners was impressive.
Trade fairs today are more than just presentation space. What is Munich Fabric Start's USP?
Munich Fabric Start has never been just an exhibition space. We have always seen ourselves as a communicator and service partner for our suppliers. At the forthcoming Munich Fabric Start, running from August 30 to September 1, 2016, this claim will once again ring out even more loudly and clearly. The new Keyhouse venue as a centre of innovation and creativity and Catalyzer as an additional denim section will provide two new halls on space totalling 2,500 square metres - as innovative, pioneering segments with great development potential. Keyhouse will therefore establish an interactive think tank for technical textile know-how, individual product placement, strategic company cooperations, resource utilisation and thus the dovetailing of cross-sector technologies.
Presented at Catalyzer, the new Hall 6, will be Denim Heritage and Blueprints with a focus on sustainability and innovation. As a supplement to Bluezone this area decisively strengthens and sharpens the range for denim and sportswear - making further deepening of the product profile, current developments and creative input concepts possible.
Against the backdrop of these complementary segments Munich Fabric Start's USP is further sharpened - clearly making it an interactive communication platform with the greatest innovative and pioneering potential for meeting major market challenges via emotional added value on the basis of the highest service levels.
What kind of sourcing challenges does the global industry face? What needs to be done to master these?
The textile and apparel industry currently faces great upheaval and revolutionary restructuring. This affects all processes starting from purchasing through to the most varied of sales channels. It will not be possible to master this task without actively integrating digitisation and the global networking it entails across all levels, right down to the consumer.
For us it is therefore a logical and consistent move to implement this strategy of networking and dialogue in line with the digitisation facing the market and to create a market-relevant, professional and public forum to discuss this.
How many visitors and exhibitors took part? How have figures changed compared with the last event?
Both exhibitor and visitor numbers show positive developments. Indeed, we have been able to post new suppliers from both home and abroad. Visitor numbers are also displaying a continuous rise. Of great importance to us as organisers is not only the quantitative increase but also, more significantly, the extension of a consciously chosen, high-quality range.
Furthermore, Munich Fabric Start is also developing extremely positively. For instance, the portfolio of fabrics, additional and services at the forthcoming event comprises some 1,700 collections from a record 1,000 suppliers who presented on space, now extended by two new halls, totalling 42,500 square metres. Here, too, we are posting constant growth in international visitor structure.
What region did most visitors come from?
VIEW Premium Selection was highly attended by the German market that occupies a strong position internationally. Beyond this, interest from trendsetting brands and leaders from Switzerland, the Benelux, Great Britain and Scandinavia is growing.
What are the most important innovations in the fabric, denim and sportswear segments?
As in the past, the high degree of fashion focus was convincing and inspiring in collection design and ran through all collections like a common theme, both in the fabrics, denim and sportswear segments and in additionals.
Also demonstrating great creative potential were the design studios represented at VIEW. Obviously forming current highlights are the innovative accents of potential smart textiles that are playing an increasingly important role in the development of strong market collections.
