From microporous stretch membranes and bio-based material systems to new approaches in wool, cellulose and bodywear: the latest PERFORMANCE DAYS Jury Meeting revealed a performance textile landscape that is becoming more diverse, more technical and increasingly focused on the entire material system. The PERFORMANCE DAYS Awards highlight the developments that particularly convinced the jury this season.
FROM JURY TABLE TO TREND FORUM
Ahead of every edition of PERFORMANCE DAYS, an international panel of textile and industry experts evaluates the latest material submissions for the Trend Forum, looking at technical performance as well as innovation, relevance, construction and environmental considerations.
For Fall/Winter 2028/29, the PERFORMANCE DAYS team was joined by Johannes Fürst, Montebelo, Dominik Fuss, The Natural Laboratory; Tom White, Under Armour; Jasmin Abegg, Uvex; Jenni Toft, Nura; Luca Zanatta, Diesel; and Birgit Gahlen, Woolmark, bringing perspectives from material development, design, fashion and natural fibers to the jury table.
One message emerged clearly: performance is no longer defined by numbers alone. Waterproofness, breathability, weight and stretch remain essential, but fiber origin, construction, skin comfort, longevity, circularity and end-of-life are increasingly part of the same development process.
This shift is particularly visible in this season’s Focus Topic, “Bio-Based Materials – From Fiber to Fabric.” Renewable feedstocks are moving beyond individual fibers into increasingly sophisticated textile systems, from polymers and yarns to stretch components, membranes, laminations and finishes. At the same time, the jury discussion made clear that biobased does not automatically mean sustainable: feedstock origin, traceability, durability,processing and recyclability remain essential when evaluating the overall material system.
The Award selections reflect this broader understanding of performance, from advanced membrane technology and wool constructions to bio-based systems, cellulose and next-to-skin materials.
AWARDS 2026: THE JURY’S SELECTION
PERFORMANCE AWARD
FLYTECH – FLYTECH DEFEND
100% recycled polyester | 89 g/m² | Water column: 20,000 mm | Breathability: 20,000 g/m²/24h
Flytech Defend is a lightweight technical shell featuring a soft, microporous stretch membrane made from PP. Combining a high hydrostatic head with excellent breathability and greater freedom of movement, the material delivers reliable weather protection without compromising comfort. A high-performance, durable DWR finish adds long-lasting water repellency.
JURY: “What convinced us was the combination of stretch and microporous membrane technology. Waterproof and breathable constructions are well established, but combining reliable protection with greater freedom of movement shows where technical shell development is heading next.”
ECO AWARD
PONTETORTO – 61040/BIOBASED
100% bio-based polyester | 200 g/m²
Pontetorto uses wood-derived bio-PET sourced from responsibly managed forests, replacing conventional fossil-based feedstock while maintaining the performance required for technical applications.
JURY: “The strength of this development lies in combining a clear environmental approach with practical material performance. Alternative feedstocks become truly relevant when they also meet the requirements of real-world applications.”
INNOVATION AWARD
PALTEX COMPANY LTD. – PURECYCLE 2L
86% bio-based polyester, 14% bio-based elastane | 175 g/m² | Water column: 5,000 mm |Breathability: 500 g/m²/24h
PureCycle 2L combines partially bio-based polyester and bio-based elastane with a TPEE membrane containing 50% bio-based content from corn-stalk residue. The complete laminate contains approximately 30% bio-based
material by weight, taking bio-based innovation from individual feedstocks into a functional material system.
JURY: “This is exactly the development we have been looking for within our Bio-Based Focus Topic: renewable feedstocks are moving beyond the fiber or yarn level into constructions where stretch, membrane technology and functionality work together as one system.”
WOOL AWARD
TAKISADA Corporation – NEW WOOL NET
67% wool, 33% polyamide | 105 g/m²
New Wool Net combines twist-free yarn technology with an open mesh construction that traps insulating air while maintaining airflow. According to the submitted product data, it dries up to five times faster than conventional Merino while delivering increased stretch, thermal retention and burst strength.
JURY: “We were fascinated by the interaction between yarn engineering and construction. Creating insulation through an open, air-trapping architecture rather than simply adding weight shows how far wool performance can be pushed through intelligent textile engineering.”
CELLULOSE AWARD
PHARMA FOODS INTERNATIONAL OVV-CSMR-01
70% CV, 30% wool | 200 g/m²
OVO SGL Jersey incorporates Ovoveil, a regenerated fiber developed using upcycled eggshell membranes from food-processing waste. Combined with wool, the jersey is designed for next-to-skin and outdoor base-layer applications.
JURY: “What caught our attention is the unexpected combination of material source and application. It shows how regenerated fibers can open up new approaches to functionality and next-to-skin performance.”
BODYWEAR AWARD
HIGH FASHION GARMENTS GRAPHENE SILK
48% silk, 45% graphene nylon, 7% elastane | 120 g/m²
Graphene Silk combines silk with graphene nylon and elastane in a lightweight two-tone knit, bringing together breathability and next- to-skin comfort with graphene-based technology designed to support thermal regulation and recovery.
JURY: “Bodywear is increasingly about more than stretch and moisture management. This development brings material innovation, thermoregulation and next-to-skin functionality together– reflecting the growing connection between performance and the needs of the body.”
ONE JURY, MANY ROUTES TO PERFORMANCE
Taken together, the Award winners demonstrate that there is no single route to the next generation of performance. Membrane engineering sits alongside natural fibers, bio-based feedstocks, intelligent construction and new approaches to on-skin functionality. What connects them is a broader understanding of performance: fiber choice, functionality, construction and environmental considerations are increasingly being developed together rather than treated as separate questions.
The award-winning materials and the complete Trend Forum will be presented at PERFORMANCE DAYS, October 13–14, 2026, at Messe München.
