The Performance Forum, offering major new trends in the world of functional fabrics and fashion accessories for Winter 2015/16 and Summer 2015, has been reorganised and given a new design to provide purchasers and product managers with an even faster way to find the materials best suited for the desired styles.

The next Performance Days trade show will take place from 19-21 November in Munich. A unique offer of the Performance Days functional fabric fair, the Performance Forum is now said to provide a more accurate assignment of the fabrics, according to their functional ranges.

Most interesting materials at Performance Days will be displayed on the nine tables as well as in the Performance Gate. The reorganised table categories now include: Baselayer, Midlayer, Softshell, Hardshell, 3-Layer, Highdensity & Lightweight, Shirt & Trouser, Casualwear, Workwear, and Accessories.

Maximum comfort

Manufacturers have been working on improving their fabrics, especially in the details, for the Winter 2015/16 show.

The look and feel, that is natural and soft to the touch is expected to be found even in the highly functional fabrics. For example, light weight and the use of wool, Merino in particular, are combined to provide active men and women better wearing comfort with higher functionality.

The keywords for Winter 2015/16 are wools, top-function, natural look, soft feel, and unmatched airiness.

Wool

Merino is catching on in a much broader base than ever before. In Winter 2015/16, Merino wool is found in every layer of the functional clothing systems, from base layer through midlayer to functional trousers and the backing of 3-layer laminates.

Often as a mix with functional fibres like polyester, the combination is said to provide active athletes an adequate moisture transport even for strenuous forms of sport.

Lightweight

The ‘Lightweight’ theme dominates many of the tables – materials of ultra-fine micro-nylons are to be seen among the base layers, delicate with a silky effect, similar to the very fine mesh designs.

The mid layers no longer have to be heavy and bulky to deliver a good thermal performance, as warp knits are said to ensure robustness in smooth, soft power stretch systems that provide warmth thanks to a fine pile on the inner side.

Fabrics made of hollow fibre polyesters are also said to provide good warmth for lightweights. Weight is also a consideration for the softshells, which is why there are extra light, wind proof micro fleece grades with membranes, designed to still keep in the warmth despite their fineness.

Natural

The theme of nature and the natural look for Winter 2015 appears as a red line running through the tables of the Performance Forum. Clearly, in the many Merino-items, but also throughout the natural surfaces and impressions of the functional laminates.

The so called ‘New Basics’ are presented at the ‘Hardshell’ and ‘3-Layer’ tables, where highly functional items with an extremely soft cotton feel or with natural looks like blends, denim or herring bone can be found.

Nature and natural can also be found at the ‘Casuals’ table, where it gives fabric manufacturers a broad palette of possibilities – fake furs, antique leathers, denims, or woollen softshells. The flannel-like shirt grades made from functional fibres as seen in the ‘Shirt & Trouser’ category, complete the natural image for Winter 2015.

Innovations and awards

The topic ‘Innovations’ will be presented at the Performance Gate and culminating with the Performance Awards.

The jury for Winter 2015/16 has nominated several interesting new fabrics and technologies that are especially impressive in the areas ‘visibility’ and ‘intelligent thermal performance’.

www.performancedays.eu