Traditional trends, such as bold prints and metallic embellishments, jostled with high-tech textiles and augmented-reality apparel for the attention and spend of big buyers at the recent New York Tex World international sourcing expo.

Brr, an Atlanta-based start-up, was keen to showcase its innovative high-tech cooling fabric. At present, Brr's process has only been applied to synthetic fibers and cotton blends. Its success to date, however, has already been enough to secure orders from a number of leading US brands, including Gap and Joseph A Banks.

Customers wanted bling items – spangles and sequins—and metallic finishes. Bright prints, especially florals, were also showing well at the event. American customers seemed to prefer bright colors with splendid designs – big flowers. By contrast, Europeans prefer more solid colors.

While florals were still on trend, more and more ethnic designs were coming through.

Europe is far more of a fast-fashion market, while the US tends to be a little more stable and conservative, as well as being very price-oriented.

For Minerva, a South Korean fashion brand, foil is doing very well right now.

Brooklyn Fashion and Design Accelerator, a ethical style hub with a focus on high-tech textiles, introduced a jacket complete with traffic-signaling LED patches.