The Japan Textile Salon returns to New York City for its third annual show next week, bringing with it a diverse array of contemporary and traditional fabric makers from Asia’s most innovative fashion market.
Taking place Jan. 21-22 at the Altman Building in Manhattan’s Meatpacking district, the Japanese External Trade Organization (JETRO) will host a two-day event dedicated to sustainable advancements in textiles, featuring two full days of information-packed panels led by notable industry leaders.
Established in 1958, the government-adjacent group has been dedicated to promoting trade and investment between Japan and countries around the globe. JETRO’s focus has been helping small to medium-sized Japanese businesses maximize their export potential globally by unlocking new opportunities.
The discussions at next week’s show will center around fashion’s devastating impact on the environment, and explore ways in which the global textile industry can mitigate its role in climate change by purusing supply chain advancements and incorporating innovative new materials. Issues like managing water waste, improving chemical dye profiles and inefficiencies on the factory floor will be explored throughout talks with leading industry experts.
“The discussion will center around sustainable development goals to help raise awareness, advocacy and engagement engagement to achieve sustainability within the fashion and textile industry,” JETRO said on the show’s website.
Dana Davis, vice president of sustainability, product and business strategy at women’s wear brand Mara Hoffman; Lucie Brigham, chief of office at United Nations Office for Partnerships; Megan Meiklejohn, sustainable materials and transparency manager at Eileen Fisher; and Tricia Carey, director of global business development apparel at Lenzing Fibers, are among the panelists slated to offer their expertise on Jan. 21.
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The show’s second day will feature Angela Kramer, senior manager of fabric research and development at 3.1. Phillip Lim; Björn Bengtsson, chief merchandising officer at men’s shirting brand Untuckit LLC and adjunct professor at Parsons; and Katsu Kawasaki, founder of SynZenbe and Katsu New York.
This show’s exhibitors encompass some of Japan’s leading design studios, denim mills, weavers, silk manufacturers, organic cotton manufacturers and purveyors of traditional Japanese embroidered textiles (known as Kinran).
Attendees include Bando Shoten; Design House Kaze; Dokoh Shoji; Fujisaki Textile; Hatakoka and Asuwa; Hokkoh; Iwai Lace; Japan Blue/Collect Denim; Kageyama; Nagoya Spinning; Panoco Trading; Showa; Toban Textile; Tohkai Thermo; Uni Textile and Yoshida Senko.