The summer edition of Texworld Apparel Sourcing Paris featured nearly 1,200 exhibitors from 26 countries. Despite various challenges, the event introduced several new features and maintained a dynamic atmosphere. The next edition is set for February 10-12, 2025, at the partially renovated Paris-Le-Bourget exhibition center, promising a session full of new initiatives.
Attendance and market adaptation
Texworld Apparel Sourcing Paris, incorporating Avantex and Leatherworld sectors, concluded on July 3. Although attendance was down compared to July 2023, the "Olympic Games effect" and economic factors influenced transport and accommodation costs in Paris. Despite these hurdles, the event's organizers are exploring alternatives to adapt to market demands, maintaining a positive business environment.
Exhibitors and visitors reported satisfactory business exchanges. Indian shirt manufacturer Sheraton Apparel secured around thirty solid contacts over three days, including serious approaches from African distributors. Similarly, Turkish company SMIT, specializing in Made in Turkey sourcing, established connections with European customers and new contacts with Canadian and Brazilian buyers.
The Near Sourcing Hub, a phygital sourcing space connected to the B2B digital platform of Messe Frankfurt France partner FourSource, maintained inquiries at similar levels to 2023. Visitors, primarily buyers from small multi-specialist boutiques, sought original mid-to-top-range offerings. In response to market demand for differentiation, the organizers extended Apparel Sourcing’s range to include new categories such as jewelry and bags.
Innovative showcases
This summer's edition featured several high-profile initiatives. The yarn pavilion, a collaboration with Yarn Expo from Shanghai, highlighted expertise from Chinese, Indian, Pakistani, and Taiwanese companies, focusing on upstream products and services. Avantex grouped twenty suppliers offering sustainable fashion solutions, with the new Designer Hub showcasing original initiatives.
One notable initiative was stylist Jean-Luc François' association, supported by Messe Frankfurt’s Texpertise network, which trains individuals distant from employment. Additionally, the 3D design studio Scotomalab impressed fashion designer Katherine Pradeau with its fusion of 3D and AI technologies in traditional skills.
Materra, a British start-up founded in 2019, won the 2024 Avantex Fashion Pitch award. The company designs solutions for climate-adapted cotton cultivation and offers a Cotton-As-A-Service model to brands. Materra's award includes a €2,800 stand at Avantex Paris 2025, €2,000 from the Texpertise Network, and a year’s incubation at Foundry donated by IFA Paris.
The Leatherworld sector introduced the Leather Trend area, developed with Edizioni AF and the Arsutoria School design centre. This space showcased autumn-winter 25-26 trends through four creative axes: simplicity, nature, dynamism (sportswear collections), and romanticism. Additionally, Ecotan’s new leather tanning technology, avoiding metals and chemicals using vegetable tannins, was highlighted.
Focus on sustainability: Econogy tour
This year's trade fairs emphasized TexpertiseEconogy, combining ecology and economic development. The Econogy Finder identified suppliers of sustainably produced textiles, marked with Econogy symbols after CSR verification. Econogy Talks featured conferences on the sustainable economy, and the new Econogy Tour offered guided tours to meet certified companies. Companies like Cradle to Cradle and TUV Rheinland, specializing in CSR certification, and manufacturers like India’s Skosh Commercial, producing organic cotton T-shirts and jerseys, were showcased.
