"ISPO Munich, the world’s largest trade fair for sporting goods, focused on sportswear for women athletes this year. The show, held on March 2, 2019 at the Messe Munchen Exhibition Centre in Munich welcomed around 80,000 industry visitors from 120 countries. Around 2,943 exhibitors showcased their products and innovations, registering an increase of 5 per cent over the previous year. The ISPO Women’s Lounge organised talks with female executives, athletes and famous personalities including Corinna Umbach, Brand Developer and founder of CU Brand Spirit."

SPO Munich, the world’s largest trade fair for sporting goods, focused on sportswear for women athletes this year. The show, held on March 2, 2019 at the Messe Munchen Exhibition Centre in Munich welcomed around 80,000 industry visitors from 120 countries. Around 2,943 exhibitors showcased their products and innovations, registering an increase of 5 per cent over the previous year.

Interacting with females executives and athletes

The ISPO Women’s Lounge organised talks with female executives, athletes and famous personalities including Corinna Umbach, Brand Developer and founder of CU Brand Spirit; Aline Bock and Anne-Flore Marxer, professional snowboarders and film makers; Lorraine Huber, Freeride World champion; Maria Elena Rizzieri, Blizzard Tecnica Global Leader of the Women to Women project, etc.

The program focused on products and sales marketing for the target group women in the sports industry, implementation of women campaigns, body positivity, empowerment and entrepreneurship, women in management positions and female influencers as figureheads of sport brands. ISPO Textrends forum featured over 458 innovative products spanning 10 different categories for the Autumn/Winter 2020-2021 season.

Innovations on display

The major innovations on display included, ‘Crafted in Japan’ display by Cordura presented backpacks and travel bags made using Cordura durable fabrics, featuring brands like F/CE, Milesto, and MSPC Master-Piece. The company also presented its Cordura Nyco Knits, engineered with military-grade Invista T420 nylon 6,6 staple fibre blended with cotton.

Karl Mayer showcased functional, warp knitted meshes for leisurée, fashion, sports and athleisure, as well as fabrics with textile electrodes, engineered spacer textiles with 3D patterns, air-permeable jacquard designs and sporty lace fabrics.

Shima Seiki demonstrated its state-of-the-art SVR123SP computerised knitting machine for producing hybrid inlay fabrics and knit samples for shoe uppers and apparel applications.

Lonati and Santoni also presented the Goshoes single cylinder socks knitting machine and the X Machineoffering multiple possibilities in the knitting of unique Intarsia patterned goods and shoe uppers.

Eurojersey launched its new 2019 ad campaign ‘Free the Form’. It also presented its new Absolute Move collection of sensitive fabrics for sports bras powered by Lycra Sport technology. Isko presented its latest innovation Isko Vital, woven compression technology platform that showcased 18 different bottom silhouettes clim8 demonstrated its CES and ISPO 2019 award winning technology for base layer applications that allows the wearer to regulate temperature.

KnitWarm, based in Hong Kong, presented a patented self-heating textile that boasts softness, flexibility and breathability. The company also showcased its 4-in-1 jacket that consists of two jacket layers that zip together. Kymira, showcased its latest KYnergy technology designed to increase the wearer’s circulation, tissue oxygenation and cellular metabolism.

Noble Biomaterials, presented smart innovations, with its X-Static, XT2 and Circuitex technologies. X-Static harnesses the power of silver to create a technology that inhibits the growth of bacteria on fabric.

New exhibitors show their innovations

There wear many first time exhibitors who showcased their latest innovations and collections. For example, Norm from Germany displayed magnetic connectors on a conductor track system that allow easy installation of e-modules. In the apparel category, Careydesign, from China, presented functional urban garment made of a new Nano RGO-blended fabric. Maaree, from the UK, developed a high-impact sports bra with Overband technology.

German manufacuter Patronace showcased lightweight fashion wear with an abrasion-resistant skin protection system. UK’s Skapya’s convertible jacket featured a pocket system that fits the jacket itself while maintaining access to small items. Slovenian firm StandOUT SUP Wear featured a lightweight, breathable and flexible neoprene wear for standup paddlers. German brand Ryzon, presented a triathlon suit made of hydrophobic Teflon fabric with friction-free seams. Saola, from France, showcased its sustainably produced light outdoor shoes.