Sportswear feature launched for FESPA 2020
In response to an ever-growing textiles market, FESPA has announced a new event for the 2020 event, in the form of Sportswear Pro.
Wednesday, 22 May 2019 11:26 GMT
A new sportswear feature has been launched to accommodate a growing textiles market
Next year’s event, which is taking place in Madrid, will see the sportswear event added for the first time, designed to demonstrate the latest technological innovations in on-demand and customised sportswear.
The event will bring together manufacturers and suppliers of solutions for three areas of sportswear: design, production and decoration, as well as developers of sports-related accessories, smart textiles and printed electronics.
Michael Ryan, event manager for Sportswear Pro at FESPA, comments: “Our core FESPA community is heavily engaged in the production of sports apparel, with 80% of textile printers active in this dynamic segment, according to our 2018 FESPA Print Census.
“But what is clear is that, despite 7% growth in 2018, sportswear producers are not currently served by an event focused on how to optimise their processes and meet the global trends of customisation and speed to market.”
Running alongside the exhibition will be a dedicated conference programme aiming to reflect the business priorities of sportswear manufacturers and designers, including sustainability and automation.
FESPA’s long heritage in screen and digital printing gives us deep roots in the garment production sector”
Ryan adds: “We believe that FESPA, having established a commanding position as a leading European exhibition for textile and garment printing including direct-to-garment, can deliver an event that informs, educates and inspires sportswear designers and manufacturers with the opportunities being enabled by technology and materials innovation.”
The organisers say that launching the event in Madrid is an ideal platform, as the location offers easy access for decision-makers from areas in Southern Europe and North Africa, which have been identified as key regions for the design and production of textiles.
FESPA’s chief executive officer Neil Felton concludes: “FESPA’s long heritage in screen and digital printing gives us deep roots in the garment production sector, while recent insights show clearly that sports and active wear is one of the most dynamic segments of this industry.
“We’re confident that the introduction of Sportswear Pro will add value to our established community, while supporting a wider audience to evolve their manufacturing businesses for a fast-changing market.”
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