The Summer 2025 edition of the Functional Fabric Fair, powered by PERFORMANCE DAYS®, successfully concluded at New York City’s Javits Center with a renewed emphasis on sustainability and material innovation in the performance and fashion apparel industries.
Over 2,100 industry professionals—including executives, designers, and sourcing managers from leading brands such as Alo, Calvin Klein, Carhartt, Lululemon, Nordstrom, Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, Rhone, and Under Armour—participated in the three-day event, solidifying the fair’s reputation for quality engagement and high-level dialogue.
Debut of the “Day 0” Sustainability Workshop
Held on July 21, the inaugural Day 0 Sustainability Workshop was a major highlight, drawing over 150 participants for a full day of in-depth discussions and collaborative roundtables. Curated by sustainability veterans Jill Dumain, Todd Copeland, and Kevin Myette, the workshop explored urgent topics such as climate impact, responsible sourcing, and material innovation, offering actionable solutions across the global textile supply chain.
“We’re at a pivotal moment for sustainability in textiles,” noted Steve McCullough, Event Vice President. “The conversations we hosted during Day 0 are setting the foundation for long-term progress.”
Exhibition & Program Highlights
The exhibit hall opened from July 22–23, featuring 150+ carefully curated exhibitors and a rich program lineup focused on cutting-edge innovation and sustainable sourcing.
Key Features Included:
- Future Fabrics Expo Innovation Hub
Making its U.S. debut, this hub showcased 33 groundbreaking materials—from living fungi inkjet prints to wetland-grown biomaterials and enzymatic fiber separation technologies—highlighting scalable, eco-forward innovations.
- Expert Talks (Sponsored by CovationBio®)
This stage hosted well-attended sessions on circularity, tariffs, 3D garment tech, and women’s leadership, offering vital insights across two full days.
- Trend Forum
A presentation of 12 fabric categories, with QR-code access to sustainable samples for seamless digital sourcing.
- Networking Events
Highlights included the AATCC “Social in the City”, Sorona Happy Hour, and daily Complimentary Coffee with Coloro, nurturing new connections across the value chain.
Industry Reactions from the Show Floor
“This fair shapes both our short- and long-term strategies—it’s a true intersection of performance and sustainability,” said Gurvinder Malhotra, VP of Global Raw Materials at Alo.
“The conversations here are the best in the business,” shared Peter Lucier of WidePlus International.
“As a first-time exhibitor, we’re thrilled with the interest in our synaptic fabrics,” added Ray He of Jooya Textile.
“We’re seeing sustainability become central—not just a value-add, but a business imperative,” said Alexa Dehmel, Head Judge and Trend Forum Curator.
- Upcoming Functional Fabric Fair Events
- Portland Fall: November 11–13, 2025
- Orlando Winter (with PGA Show): January 21–22, 2026
- Portland Spring: April 7–9, 2026
- New York Summer: July 7–9, 2026
