Paris, France – Avantex is the first trade show to bring together in Paris companies that supply the ultimate in high-tech fabrics, trimmings and services for the fashion of tomorrow. The keen interest in textile innovation and research and development demonstrated by the market was more than confirmed, exhibitors having greatly increased their contacts and projects.
Avantex Paris consolidates its position at the forefront of textile innovation and sets the standards for an unprecedented range of high-tech and fashion products.
Initiated in September 2015 for this very new field of technical clothing and fabrics as well as e-clothing, Avantex Paris immediately satisfied a strong demand for convenience, everyday use and functionality from consumers, who seek functional, suitable fashion, fanciful at times but more practical, more rational.
“These products from the most innovative exhibitors attending the 3rd Avantex show were met with strong interest. This concentrated and vigorous activity certainly endorses the validity of the initiative by Messe Frankfurt France and its more than positive development: visitors have moved on from a state of astonishment and discovery to that of taking concrete steps, to establishing markets, on the part of a large number of companies in the sector. Show after show, Avantex Paris, always at the forefront of the market, is becoming THE European reference platform for highly functional and technical innovative textiles”, says Michael Scherpe, President of Messe Frankfurt France.
The exhibitors applauded the efficient logistics and the high level of organisation, in terms of equipment and location. The trade show was arranged around the Avantex agora, this circular forum where each day round tables were held with experts, who are either developing or have implemented innovative solutions at every stage of fashion. Exchanges of ideas and experience took place that are indispensable for this booming sector. The flood of visitors around this central point gave rise to interactions with exhibitors, encouraged discoveries and discussions.
Exhibitors also applauded the marketing campaign undertaken in advance by Messe Frankfurt France. They established numerous ties, with business intermediaries, world-renowned companies, retail chains, sometimes specialist (well-being, outdoors, sports etc.) who often operate on an international scale and there was a certain interest from the high-volume retail sector. These high-calibre buyers, with specific needs, were able to find solutions for their very precise requirements from among the accumulated expertise of exhibitors.
“The very broad range of international visitors made it possible for us to establish numerous contacts with fashion designers, the eco-system for ethical fashion, manufacturers of finished products looking for French expertise, textile producers keen to invite French fashion designers to their factories in order to develop innovative collections. What will be the future of fashion? was the recurrent question. The closeness of our stand to the agora also increased our interactions with visitors”, said Alice Gras, president and co-founder of the La Fashion Tech Association enthusiastically.
The September 2016 Avantex show expanded the categories it offered for technical/technological services that support fashion. This diversification was highly acclaimed, as witnessed by the success of the cap with built-in headphones from the Taiwanese Sound Team, which received a wealth of requests for samples, the all-in-one photo equipment from Picapics, which received expressions of interest in buying from several American, Indian and Chinese companies, also the concept for instantaneous dyeing and embroidery from Coloreel, which was given a special preview at Avantex Paris and aroused keen interest on the part of manufacturers.
The artistic directors at Messe Frankfurt France reflected this approach by presenting two collaborative works that mixed design and technical materials:
– Students from the lingerie section at ESMOD Paris making use of technical textiles to incorporate them in very imaginative lingerie collections that combined femininity, seductiveness and technology.
– The French federation for bespoke couture (Fédération Française de Création Couture Sur-mesure) in Paris engaged in an exercise in style that consisted of incorporating fabrics from Avantex exhibitors in exceptional haute couture dresses.
Alongside these innovative finished products, the ranges of textiles were not outdone: in particular, the almond and cinnamon-based antibacterial fabrics from Green Defence, Umorfil’s collagen peptide-based cosmetic fibres obtained from fish scales and blended with recycled fibers and the triple-layer breathable fabrics from the Korean firm Bosung Textile met with resounding success.
The September 2016 Avantex agora: pioneer in the high-tech + fashion equation
Avantex Paris has set itself the goal of explaining the most fundamental aspects of fashion tech to visitors at the show.
All in all, some forty experts were heard from during the eight presentations in keeping with the daily topics of Design and Prototyping, Distribution and Communications, Finished Products and Solutions, Raw Materials and Components. Here are a few quotes taken from them:
“Digitalisation allows for boundless creativity. With the same budget in a style agency, it is possible to do more and do better. Today, thinking is printing”, Catherine Gorgé, Secretary General at Prodways Technologies.
“The creativity in couture and the potential offered by high-technology can transform lace into the façade of the building. Thanks to these new technologies, textiles can become something else” Valérie Manoukian, joint manager at Dacryl.
“Thanks to French technology, an ancient craft can become a new profession: it is possible to weave light and to take textile skills in different directions”, Olivier Lapidus, designer.
“At a time when shop trade is dropping by 10% each year and when online shopping is growing ceaselessly, steps should be taken to create simple, efficient and fun digital eco-systems” Yann Rivoallan, commercial director, The Other Store.
“We need to juggle intelligently between the physical and digital” Thomas Borie, senior project manager, Fabernovel
The high point in this ultra-contemporary competition around the alliance between fashion and new technologies was the catwalk show from Elisabeth de Senneville, eight fashion innovations from 2000 – 2030 showcased technologies integrated with flair in vivid, urban and contemporary ready-to-wear, taking a refreshing and avant-garde approach. Special mention goes to the flexible LED screens, anti-pollution and anti-magnetic fabrics and woven optical fibers.
Source: Messe Frankfurt