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unich-based Performance Days is con- sidered a go-to industry gathering for those focused on functional materials, and this summer the show will make its U.S. debut in New York City under the name Functional Fabric Fair, powered by Performance Days. Here, Steve McCullough of Reed Exhibitions describes the appeal of this new textile trade event. What differentiates the Functional Fabric Fair from other textile trade shows? McCullough: "The easy answer is curation. We want to emulate, and replicate, what Performance Days has built in Munich. In terms of the companies exhibiting, all are high-caliber in their field of expertise. In terms of layout, booths are generic so that the product, or the technology, is the focus. That's the attraction, and it puts everyone on a level playing field. Also the Functional Fabric Fair is timed to take place during market week, when the industry comes to New York to see what's new and can gather under one roof." How does the Functional Fabric Fair address "where function meets fashion?" "These days you see performance in product from traditional lifestyle brands. There's stretch in shirts, trousers and dresses, for example, and there are thermo-regulating fabrics in everything from outerwear to underwear. That's what's going on and that's what the Functional Fabric Fair can offer. It allows 7th Ave to find performance and get educated about branded ingredient product and the companies that supply them, and it allows exhibitors from the active/outdoor space to find a new category of brands. It's a two-way street." How does the Functional Fabric Fair meet the needs of today's per- formance textile market? "If you look at what Performance Days does in Germany, that show model doesn't exist here in a standalone fashion. The setting is intimate, with a lot of attention paid to the little things that make for a great atmosphere. Upwards of 70 textile exhibi- tors, along with thoughtfully displayed material science trend boards, a stage for speaker presentations and a food area, will be held in the River View Galleria, a rooftop space at the Javits Center with views of the New York City skyline and Hudson River. A concierge service will be available so attendees can book a tour of the exhibitors." Who will attend and what can they expect to see? "Fabric developers, head designers, sourc- ing directors, merchandisers, buyers, and material managers from a range of apparel performance and lifestyle brands and retail companies will attend. The exhibi- tors are globally based. Well represented are suppliers from Taiwan, in addition to European and U.S. companies. Fabric vendors from South America, Vietnam and China will also be showing. Nine speakers will present over the course of the two- day Fair, including Nora Kühner and Alexa Dehmel, both are well regarded from their talks at Performance Days. New York is a white space for something like this; the Functional Fabric Fair will fill that with something new and different." O For details, visit: www.functionalfabricfair.com FUNCTIONAL FABRIC FAIR | PREVIEW Germany's Performance Days Is Fit for a New York Debut The Inside Scoop on the Textile Fair Making its NYC Debut During Market Week. M 32 • Textile Insight ~ May/June 2018 textileinsight.com