MUNICH FABRIC START, BLUE ZONE HOLD THEIR OWN

The 28th edition of Munich Fabric Start continued to grow the show’s influence in the textile world, with 730 international fabric and textile accessories manufacturers converging on Munich’s M.O.C. for the three-day event.

The show, widely considered a traditional appointment for German apparel and textile insiders, also registered visits from new foreign countries. Fashion insiders from as far as Finland and Ireland were also present for this edition. That is a clear indication that the event is widening its approach to include more offerings from manufacturers, offer better timing, and even eco-friendly initiatives as its “organic selection” continues to grow its popularity.

Significantly, some 60 specialists in jeanswear including denim manufacturers, fabric finishers and laundries were on site to showcase their offerings in the Zenith Hall, otherwise known as Blue Zone.

Said Thomas Disslich, CEO, Vicunha Europe, on the industry’s apparent recovery: “I think that we are all conscious of the fact that the industry is on the road back to something normal. Many companies have reduced their stocks and are not producing so much as in the past. Moreover, the higher prices of cotton [has resulted in fewer] products around. In general, nobody wants to run too much risk and people rather prefer to put their ‘chips’ on proven formulas, also in terms of trends.”

In the meantime, accessories companies aiming at the jeanswear market at MFS offered new complements such as Madeira's stitching and embroidery yarns and a wider series of yarns in various metallic shades that do not ruin or leave color marks on denim or leather even after multiple washes. It also developed a special wool-synthetic fiber mix yarn for a rustic effect and yarns blended with material obtained from tree barks for more ethnic decorations. MIC, the sewing threads manufacturer meanwhile, presented a special shiny thread that, too, after a heavy wash, maintains its luster.