For fabric and apparel sourcing, nothing beats being able to feel and see textiles in person. But over the past year, this tactile experience has been difficult to find as travel and trade shows came to a temporary halt during the pandemic.
This summer, Messe Frankfurt’s Texworld and Apparel Sourcing New York City are ending their pandemic pause on live events. The shows are returning with a three-day-long co-located fair that offers physical sourcing exploration mixed with digital ease. From July 20-22, fabric buyers, designers, merchandisers and textile professionals will be able to network, source and learn.
The event’s new Sourcing Showroom concept will enable buyers to browse thousands of product samples, each of which will have a QR code linked to a virtual event platform and marketplace. By scanning the code, an attendee can pull up detailed product information and schedule a one-on-one video appointment with the exhibitor.
As travel remains a hurdle in some parts of the globe, Texworld NYC is offering an alternative to international trips. The Sourcing Showroom will be global, with over 150 exhibitors from more than 15 countries including Portugal, China, Korea, Mauritius, Turkey and India. The showcasing companies’ samples will be there, however, their representatives won’t be present on-site. This simplifies participation for suppliers from outside the U.S., while also providing American buyers the opportunity to see goods from global suppliers without leaving the country.
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The return to live events isn’t the only change this season. The July edition marks the first time that the shows are being housed at the Starrett-Lehigh Building in Chelsea near Hudson Yards. The exhibition space curated by TOBE + The Doneger Group will be centered on Fall/Winter 2022-23 trends, looking ahead at post-pandemic apparel.
In addition to sourcing, buyers can attend the show to gain insights and inspiration on future design direction. On July 21, Kai Chow, creative director at TOBE + The Doneger Group, will lead an exclusive one-day-only Trend Tour to walk attendees through the event and point out what will be popular late next year and where to find top trends on the show floor.
Attendees can also learn about the latest in sourcing via educational programming. The seminars will cover hot topics like circularity, supply chain transparency and sourcing from Central America. The Lenzing Seminar Series and Textile Talks will be housed on the virtual event platform, enabling the content to reach viewers anywhere.
Texworld NYC is the largest sourcing event on the East Coast, providing a platform for the textile and apparel sourcing industry. Through the disruption of the pandemic, the event launched a digital platform that ran successfully for the last two editions. The virtual show included functions such as AI matchmaking and online chat capabilities to connect buyers with suppliers regardless of physical location. This will remain as part of Texworld going forward, complementing the in-person experience.
“The market has changed rapidly over the last year and a half, and the Texworld NYC team continued to innovate and find a way to connect global suppliers with the U.S. market,” said Jennifer Bacon, Show Director for Texworld New York City. “The development of the Sourcing Showroom has been long discussed, and we are excited to debut this new approach to sourcing. Our new venue for this edition allows the opportunity to create an interactive and intimate experience for buyers while offering international companies the chance to once again get their products in the hands of U.S. buyers.”
Registration is now open for Texworld NYC and Apparel Sourcing NYC. Click here for more information.