In addition to established brands such as Recolution, Dawn Denim, Vaude, Mela, Rotholz, Two Thirds, Reiff and Moea, new exhibitors are also presenting at the international trade fair for sustainable textiles in the Hofheim Rhein-Main exhibition center.
The industry is characterized by change and further development
Brands and retailers continue to find themselves in an area of conflict between rising costs, cautious consumption, growing regulatory requirements and technical innovations. The actors are facing the resulting challenges and dealing with various aspects of future viability, says Alexander Hitzel, project manager at INNATEX: “Many brands report full schedules – and yet uncertainty remains,” says Hitzel. “Nobody knows how the market will develop. We at the organizing MUVEO GmbH can at least influence one thing, namely an INNATEX that offers maximum added value: with trading recommendations, important impulses, tools and space for honest exchange.”
Two questions, many possibilities, various impulses
The market discourse can be boiled down to two questions: How does sustainable fashion remain relevant? And how can sales be increased? Accordingly, the trade fair program focuses on providing answers. For example, the TextilWirtschaft expert talk as a new format with the title: “How sustainability becomes a competitive advantage”.
TextilWirtschaft editor Mara Javorovic and management consultant Franziska von Becker talk about strategic solutions for a noticeable fatigue in the sustainability discourse and about how conventional retail can be convinced.
“Sustainability only becomes a competitive advantage if it is part of the company strategy,” says von Becker. “Not as an attitude, but as an economically effective basis for decision-making.”
Over 220 brands flanked by a big premiere
With the new Evolution Stage – Shaping Tomorrow’s Fashion, the trade fair is supplementing its concept with a curated area format based on a concept store. Developed by designer Jonathan Radetz, the selection of labels represents sales-relevant assortment logic and point-of-sale suitability. Maatroom, VIDAR Sport, Jungle Folk, ZAMT, Halt.Clothing, DeLin and Makesomebodyhappy were selected for the premiere.
The rest of the supporting program also remains practical: topics such as AI-supported sales strategies, longevity and brand work are dealt with primarily from the perspective of how they influence purchasing decisions and support retail in day-to-day business. INNATEX is thus positioning itself as a working platform for an industry in transition.