The Functional Fabric Fair powered by Performance Days has postponed its third edition scheduled for July at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York and rescheduled the event for Jan. 25-26 at the same venue.
Organizer Reed Exhibitions said the decision was made after careful consideration and with sensitivity to the concerns and feedback from the apparel community. Rescheduling for January aligns the event with other Winter Market Week trade shows and events. Many trade shows have been either turning their New York trade shows into virtual events or postponing them for later dates due to the coronavirus pandemic and government closure of public spaces and limitations on gatherings.
For 2020, Functional Fabric Fair will shift to facilitating business connections through a virtual platform that will launch in early summer and offers customers the opportunity to connect with each other through matchmaking, appointment setting and digital learning and development. Functional Fabric Fair Portland is currently scheduled to take place Nov. 18-19 at the Oregon Convention Center.
“Our number one priority is the health and safety of our exhibitors, attendees, industry partners and staff,” Steve McCullough, the Fair’s event director, said. “This wasn’t an easy decision. However, after consulting our customers, closely monitoring developments and reviewing guidance from public health officials, we have decided postponement is in the best interest of all of the Functional Fabric Fair community. It has always been our goal to provide the utmost value to our customers, whether it is in face-to-face communication or through a platform that allows us to collaborate throughout the year. We are proud of the team and indebted to our partners for quickly shifting priorities that will allow us to deliver on our goals.”
Functional Fabric Fair showcases the latest trends in textile development for the apparel industry. In addition to a curated marketplace dedicated to the responsible sourcing of high-performance functional fabrics and accessories, the show provides expert-led education, supplier recommendations and a university program that exposes students to textile and apparel developers.
“While we cannot predict the future, we look forward to welcoming the performance and fashion apparel industry back to the River Pavilion at the Javits Center in January,” Yancy Weinrich, chief operating officer of Reed Exhibitions, said. “We also appreciate the support of the Javits throughout our process to find the right solution for the industry during this challenging time.”