Trade show organizer Messe Frankfurt North America is adapting its Techtextil North America and Texprocess Americas shows for the Covid era.
The collocated events were originally slated to be held May 12-14, 2020, in Atlanta. After the pandemic began, the shows were postponed until October, but regulations including travel restrictions and quarantine procedures prompted Messe Frankfurt to change its plans. In July, the in-person editions were postponed until their next editions in 2021 and 2022.
“In lieu of a physical tradeshow in 2020, we still wanted to offer our exhibitors a platform for exposure, and our visitors the opportunity to learn about the latest trends and technologies hitting the technical textiles and sewn products industries,” said group show director Kristy Meade.
Instead of a digital trade show held all at once, the organizers announced a monthly webinar series running from October to April. Using the original Symposium programming for the May live events, they translated the agenda into virtual sessions. Messe Frankfurt also added speakers and subjects in response to current industry topics across technical textiles, nonwoven and sewn products.
Attendees have access to two different tracks: Technical Textiles and Sewn Products. Participants can register a la carte for the topics that are relevant to them across both series.
The Sewn Products track, supported by SPESA, will focus on how production is changing in different tiers of the supply chain. Two of the main themes are fashion’s manufacturing workforce and on-demand production. This module will also feature insights on how the direct-to-consumer model will reshape the supply chain.
The next session in Sewn Products is on Jan. 13. Titled “Industry 4.0 and the Evolution of Printing,” it will cover how printing can help create more sustainable textiles for apparel and home décor. In addition to boasting environmental benefits, digital printing can deliver the unique and customized products that customers are increasingly seeking out.
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The Technical Textiles track is being supported in part by Georgia Tech’s School of Materials Science and Engineering and will feature expert academic and industry speakers in areas including fibers and polymers, nonwovens, nanotechnology and biomedical engineering.
On Jan. 14, this module will cover “How to Implement Your Roadmap to Sustainability.” While sustainability is a shared goal for most fashion firms, it can be a struggle to know where to start or which next steps to take. This panel will focus on ways to make an impact through waste reduction, material sourcing, chemical usage and resource consumption.
Later webinars in Technical Textiles will tackle subjects including smart textiles and high-performance fibers.
Attendees who missed the earlier sessions—including talks on 3D printing, sewing technologies and “The Factory of the Future”—can register to view the recordings.
Techtextil North America will return as an in-person event in August 2021 in Raleigh, N.C., complete with a Texprocess Pavilion among other show floor features. Booth sales are currently active and according to the organizers, space is going quickly. Meanwhile, Texprocess Americas will be held as a physical show in May 2022 alongside the 2022 edition of Techtextil North America in Atlanta.
Registration is open for the Techtextil North America and Texprocess Americas Symposiums. Click here for more information and to reserve your seat.