AllFashion Sourcing Cape Town 2026 has opened at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC 2), bringing together manufacturers, designers, retailers, buyers, sourcing specialists and policymakers to strengthen Africa’s textile, apparel and fashion industry.
Taking place from 14–16 July, the exhibition is hosted by Messe Frankfurt South Africa in partnership with Texpertise, the City of Cape Town, and supported by Nedbank, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic), the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), and industry partners.
Organisers say this year’s edition places a stronger emphasis on collaboration, innovation and commercial opportunities across Africa’s clothing and textile value chain while supporting local manufacturing and regional supply chains.
Connecting the Entire Fashion Supply Chain
As part of Messe Frankfurt’s global Texpertise Network, AllFashion Sourcing serves as a platform linking African manufacturers with international sourcing opportunities. The exhibition features suppliers from across the textile and apparel value chain, including fabric producers, garment manufacturers, trims suppliers, textile machinery companies, leather product manufacturers, logistics providers and providers of sustainable manufacturing solutions.
Retailers and sourcing professionals are expected to use the event to identify new suppliers, discover innovative products and technologies, and establish partnerships that strengthen local and regional sourcing networks.
Business Matchmaking to Foster New Partnerships
A key feature of this year’s exhibition is the Business Matchmaking Programme, designed to facilitate pre-arranged meetings between retailers, buyers, manufacturers and suppliers. The initiative aims to generate targeted business discussions that can lead to sourcing agreements, strategic partnerships and long-term commercial opportunities as companies continue to diversify supply chains and expand into new markets.
Read more:Â Allfashion Sourcing Cape Town 2026 Opens Young Designer Competition Entries
WGSN Trend Forecast Highlights Future Fashion Directions
Among the headline conference sessions is WGSN’s Fashion Aesthetic Drivers 2028 presentation, offering attendees insights into future global fashion trends. The session explores upcoming colour palettes, materials, consumer behaviour and design influences expected to shape fashion collections over the coming years.
The expanded Fringe Programme also includes discussions on sustainable transformation, the future of South Africa’s Clothing, Textile, Footwear and Leather (CTFL) industry, digital commerce, industry collaboration and business growth opportunities through the Nedbank Accelerate Programme.
Showcasing Emerging Designers and Innovation
In addition to the exhibition, visitors can attend exhibitor fashion shows, the Young Designer Competition Finals, Celebration of Fashion showcases, innovation displays and networking events with industry leaders.
The exhibition officially opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by government representatives, exhibitors and industry stakeholders.
Supporting South Africa’s Manufacturing Sector
The City of Cape Town says hosting AllFashion Sourcing aligns with its strategy to strengthen local manufacturing, attract investment and support the creative economy. Alderman James Vos, Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, said bringing together designers, manufacturers, retailers and industry organisations is essential for expanding Africa’s clothing and textile markets.
Michael Dehn, Managing Director of Messe Frankfurt South Africa, described the exhibition as more than a traditional trade fair, highlighting its role in creating business opportunities through industry knowledge sharing and structured networking. Nedbank also reaffirmed its support for entrepreneurship through initiatives such as the Nedbank Fashion Accelerator Programme, developed in partnership with Fetola, to help emerging fashion businesses scale operations and improve competitiveness.
As the South African textile and apparel sector continues to adapt to changing consumer expectations, digital transformation and sustainability requirements, AllFashion Sourcing Cape Town 2026 aims to provide a platform for innovation, sourcing and collaboration while promoting local production, investment and job creation.
