(Media high-resolution photos are available at www.fffnewyork19.com/media-kit)
NEW YORK, N.Y. (July 24, 2019) –- Functional Fabric Fair New York powered by PERFORMANCE DAYS® hosted 1,866 apparel industry professionals from 22 countries to preview the latest trends and source high performance functional fabrics and accessories from more than 130 regionally diverse and hand-selected textile manufacturers in the sold-out River Pavilion of the Javits Center in New York, July 22-23, 2019.
The event, which doubled in size from its 2018 launch, also offered 13 complimentary educational workshops and professional networking programs.
“After last year’s successful launch of Functional Fabric Fair powered by PERFORMANCE DAYS®, we were determined to raise the bar even higher in all aspects of the event,” said Steve McCullough, Functional Fabric Fair Event Manager. “As the second New York edition closes, we are energized with the positive response from the industry. Exhibitors built important business connections with decision-makers from many of the most recognizable brands in the U.S., and our attendees enjoyed a diversity of highly curated vendors sharing the newest developments in functional fabrics and performance technology. We are enthusiastic to take our experiences in New York to launch Functional Fabric Fair Portland powered by PERFORMANCE DAYS®, this October.”
“We are happy about the great success of the second edition of Functional Fabric Fair New York powered by PERFORMANCE DAYS, thanks to our partnership with Reed Exhibitions“, adds Marco Weichert, General Manager of Design & Development GmbH Textile Consult. “Same as in PERFORMANCE DAYS in Munich, the quality of the PERFORMANCE FORUM showcasing the fabric and accessory highlights of the industry were appreciated by attendees. Both exhibitors and attendees honored the outstanding focus on sustainability of the event, which started with the location of the Javits Center, the material of the booths, the selection of the PERFORMANCE FORUM, the speeches and much more. We now are very excited for the launch of Functional Fabric Fair powered by PERFORMANCE DAYS Portland this fall!”
Attending industry professionals represented market leaders, up-and-coming designers, apparel manufacturing veterans and mass merchandisers such as Alexander Wang, American Eagle-Aerie, Athleta, Banana Republic, Brooks Brothers, Canada Goose, Champion, Club Monaco, DKNY, Free Country, GAP, J. Crew, Jockey, Li & Fung, Lilly Pulitzer, Macy’s, Michael Kors, New Balance, Perry Ellis, PVH, Ralph Lauren, The North Face, Tommy Hilfiger, Tommy John, Tory Burch, Under Armour, Uppababy, Victoria’s Secret, Vineyard Vines and more.
More than 130 textile manufacturers, suppliers and service providers presented their latest developments in functional fabrics, membranes plus treatments, laminates, paddings, finishes, and accessories such as yarns, tapes, prints, buttons and zippers. The exhibit hall also featured the PERFORMANCE FORUM – a platform unique to PERFORMANCE DAYS® / Functional Fabric Fair spotlighting the 300 best textile and accessory innovations, as selected by a jury of sourcing experts, which could be located at the Fair by code, exhibiting company or booth number.
Respected industry leaders presented 13 complimentary workshops in the “Experts Talks” series of educational programs on the latest trends, sustainability and technological advances to full audiences at the presentation stage. Educational presentations were created in partnership with internationally recognized textile testing and research institute, Hohenstein, and featured presentations by industry experts such as color forecaster Nora Kühner, comfort innovator Dr. Jan Beringer, compression specialist Florian Girmond, apparel entrepreneurship expert Ana Kristiansson, and sustainability advocate Ben Mead. The “Perspectives on Performance Panel” was especially well attended and featured key influencers including Mats Geogson (Polygiene), Hans Kohn (Schoeller Wool), David Parkes (Where Concept iii) and Charles Ross (HD Wool) and moderator Emily Walzer, Managing Editor of Textile Insight Magazine. The conference “Focus Topic”, Water – Our Responsibility, was weaved into the program, aligned with the organizer’s dedication to producing a zero-waste exhibition.
Attending industry professionals and supplier representatives enjoyed a happy hour and networking reception, sponsored by drirelease, to close the first day, July 22, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Javits River Pavilion.
“We’ve had a great show at Functional Fabric Fair New York,” stated Virginie Wittmer, Sales Director of Sofileta. “The quality of attendees is unmatched and we’ve met with potential customers spanning sportswear, urban menswear, and undergarments.”
Attendee Alexandria Rivera, Vice President of Design, LF Americas (A Li & Fung Company) echoed with her own satisfaction in the event experience – “Functional Fabric Fair New York is a great event. The exhibition size is perfect and there is more of exactly what we’re looking for.”
Next, Reed Exhibitions is launching Functional Fabric Fair Portland powered by PERFORMANCE DAYS®, Oct. 22-23, 2019, as a standalone event addressing a market need for a curated sourcing platform dedicated to outdoor and active functional textiles and accessories. The West Coast edition of the fair will feature products and technologies that will enter the market for the winter 2021 season. Detailed event information and industry registration for the Portland edition is open at http://fffportland19.com/About.
Functional Fabric Fair New York powered by PERFORMANCE DAYS® returns to the Javits Center on July 20-21, 2020.
Engage at #FunctionalFabricFair on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn and Twitter.
About Functional Fabric Fair—powered by PERFORMANCE DAYS®
Functional Fabric Fair New York (July) and Portland (October) are organized by Reed Exhibitions in partnership with PERFORMANCE DAYS® – the prominent international functional fabrics fair, staged twice yearly in Munich and produced by Design & Development GmbH Textile Consult (Germany). Each Fair offers a premier marketplace in the United States where apparel CEOs, designers and product development executives source the most current innovations in high performance functional fabrics, finishes, trims and accessories from a carefully curated selection of fabric mills and branded technology companies—all presented in a sustainable/minimal waste exhibition.
For more information on U.S. Functional Fabric Fairs powered by PERFORMANCE DAYS, contact Steve McCullough, Reed Exhibitions, at 203-840-5953 or [email protected]. For more information on the European Functional Fabric Fair “PERFORMANCE DAYS”, contact +49 89 93946060 or [email protected].
Media Contacts:
Sherry Major
Reed Exhibitions / Functional Fabric Fair
[email protected]
(716) 662-3855
Chadaé Bowler
Reed Exhibitions / Functional Fabric Fair
[email protected]
(203) 840-5845