In the fast-paced world of fashion, the quest for clarity and inspiration to navigate an ever-evolving landscape is more crucial than ever. From January 23 to 25, 2024, MUNICH FABRIC START takes center stage, providing a comprehensive platform for the global fashion industry to decipher the upcoming Spring.Summer 2025 collections. As the industry converges at MUNICH FABRIC START, comprising BLUEZONE, KEYHOUSE, and THE SOURCE, the focus extends beyond just materials; it delves into edutainment formats, trend forecasts, and production tools.

A meticulously curated showcase

Approximately 1,000 collections from premier international manufacturers are meticulously organized into eight distinct areas, ranging from ADDITIONALS and FABRICS to SUSTAINABLE INNOVATIONS and THE SOURCE. This arrangement offers a structured overview of fabrics, materials, and raw ingredients for the upcoming season. The unique setup reinforces MUNICH FABRIC START as an unrivaled one-stop-sourcing solution, promoting a highly professional atmosphere with short distances and easy accessibility at the heart of Europe.

"Clarity means information, innovation, and inspiration," states Sebastian Klinder, Managing Director of MUNICH FABRIC START. Against the backdrop of uncertainties in the fashion industry, including cost pressures and rising energy prices, Klinder emphasizes the industry's need for clarity as a guiding force.

The theme: CLARITY for Spring.Summer 2025

The overarching theme for the Spring.Summer 2025 trends at MUNICH FABRIC START is aptly named CLARITY. This theme encapsulates the industry's yearning for clear structures amid a complex present, characterized by reduction, realism, fantasy, and creativity. The trends reflect a coexistence of rediscovered craftsmanship and new technologies, urban and rural spaces, and the harmonious interplay of decoration and functionality.

"Fashion doesn't come to life only when collections are sewn," emphasizes Frank Junker, Creative Director & Partner of MUNICH FABRIC START. He highlights that fabric trade shows represent the essence of creative exchange, enabling designers to gain a comprehensive overview of upcoming trends and transform them into individual collections efficiently.

Innovation and sustainability: The driving forces

Transparency emerges as a crucial element of clarity in the fashion industry. MUNICH FABRIC START recognizes the role of technology in achieving transparency, showcasing innovations like blockchain, RFID, Digital Product Passes, and software advancements. Exhibitors like CO2Tex, BIOBASE, EYAND, and TransitionLab from RWTH Aachen, in collaboration with adidas, present commercially viable and scalable materials, emphasizing sustainability.

BLUEZONE, the Denim Trade Show, stands out with approximately 100 collections featuring technological advancements. The Denim Deal, a Green Deal for Circular Denim, outlines goals for recycling post-consumer textile waste and using recycled materials in new products by 2025 and 2030.

THE SOURCE focuses on production and sourcing, showcasing developments in sustainable and innovative processes. The KEYHOUSE hosts global players presenting the latest developments, innovations, and technologies, including a special presentation area for Sustainable Innovations.

A global gathering of expertise

With approximately 1,000 international exhibitors, MUNICH FABRIC START is heavily booked, featuring relevant suppliers and brands from Assyst to Yünsa. The conference and lecture program feature over 50 speakers discussing current developments, changes, and challenges in the industry, offering a blend of competence, professionalism, inspiration, and innovation.

From January 23 to 25, 2024, MUNICH FABRIC START promises to be more than a fabric show; it is an industry extravaganza seeking clarity, pushing the boundaries of creativity, sustainability, and innovation in the pursuit of fashion's future.

Indian activewear brand TechnoSport plans to establish an activewear factory in Erode in joint venture with the Government of Tamil Nadu. TechnoSport has also signed an MoU with the government for the project. 

Formalised during the Tamil Nadu Global Investors Meet, the agreement outlines TechnoSport’s commitment to manufacturing technical activewear fabrics under the ‘Special Scheme for Technical Textiles 2023’ at this facility.

Expected to start production by March 2024, the cutting-edge facility will specialise in technical textiles, harnessing technologies from Germany, Japan, Italy, and Taiwan. Boasting a daily capacity of 25 tonne, the mega factory will create more than 2000 jobs over the course of the next four years.

The factory will enhance Tamil Nadu’s economy by generating revenues and creating new employment opportunities. It will help the state achieve its vision of developing a trillion-dollar economy. 

With most manufacturers shutting shops, workers leaving for better opportunities abroad, government introducing a 3 per cent duty on raw materials and other factors, Fiji expects its textile and clothing (T&C) exports to drop by 25 per cent in 2024. 

As per Inbamalar Wanarajan, President, Textile Clothing and Footwear (TCF) Council, factors including a continuous increase in the cost of doing business, increase in minimum wages, contribution to Fiji National Provident Fund, replacement of migrant workers with newcomers and the imposition of 3 per cent duty on raw materials, are likely to lead to a 25 per cent drop in Fiji’s T&C exports in in 2024. 

Already, employment in the sector has declined from 7,000 workers to less than 4,000 workers. TCF Council members have also decreased from 50 to less than 30, she adds. 

To revive the industry, the government needs to discuss issues related to national minimum wage rate, duties policies, etc, Wanarajan says. 

She recommends the linking of national minimum wage rate increases to increase in productivity. The government should also introduce new policies in the area of duty relief and retention of skilled labors, she adds. 

Wanarajan also advises the government to import labor from other countries to meet deadlines and serve current customers appropriately. Government must initiate discussions with the US on possible return of trade agreement deals, she adds. 

Another of Wanarajan’s recommendations includes removal of 3 per cent duty on raw materials to protect the industry from deteriorating.

Motivated by the newly launched government schemes, many textile and apparel companies in India have announced expansion plans.

India’s leading textile giant, the Gujarat-based Arvind Ltd has signed a Rs 3,000-crore MoU with the Gujarat Government to develop projects across group verticals textiles, engineering and real estate.

In Tamil Nadu, The Ramraj Group has announced an investment of Rs. 1,000 crore over the next five years to set up textile processing, weaving and spinning units. These units will help the state create 5,000 jobs, says KR Nagarajan, Founder and Chairman of the group. 

Known for yarns manufacturing, GHCL Textiles plans to invest Rs. 535 crore over the next four years towards capacity and product basket expansions, vertical integration of textile manufacturing to include knitted and woven finished fabrics, as well as the enhancement of the green energy portfolio.

Jeyavishnu Clothing (KM Knitwear Group) is investing Rs. 330 crores in textile spinning and processing segments and expected to generate over 2,500 jobs.

Another leading player, SCM Garments is investing Rs. 500 crore over five years to set up new apparel units, install solar and wind energy plants.

Known for manufacturing fine cotton bedding for top European designer brands, Paramount Textile Mills is expanding its scope in the US market. It has recently appointed home textiles veteran Jayesh Saxena as president of global sales and marketing to lead that effort.