With a maximum temperature of 7°C and a minimum of -1°C, it's bitterly cold in Munich. A week from now, the mercury is set to dip further still. It's a bit windy too, with snow showers expected on Tuesday next.
But none of that is going to dampen or put on ice the enthusiasm of some 900 international exhibitors who would be spreading themselves over 42,500 sq m of exhibition space to showcase their latest developments and innovations. Equally feverish are the 20,000-odd visitors who are expected to descend on the Bavarian capital.
It's show time. It's the curtain-raiser for Spring-Summer 24. And it's the international fabric trade show: Munich Fabric Start (MFS). It's the right occasion, the right time, the right place.
Sebastian Klinder, Managing Director of Munich Fabric Start, sums up the mood: “We are looking forward to a trade show with concentrated expertise: around 900 international exhibitors at Munich Fabric Start, Bluezone and Keyhouse, including numerous new exhibitors… Even if times are uncertain—we are setting a framework that shows reliability, gives security, inspires and makes you want to explore Spring-Summer 2024.”
Breaching the uncertain times, this time, MFS at the sprawling MOC Munich will focus even more on sourcing sustainable material developments and solutions for digitalisation from product to production. On this count, the lectures will hover over four primary perspectives: economic environment, digital era, sustainable future, trends spring-summer 2024.
The overall tone is set by Simon Angel, Curator of the Sustainable Innovations Forum. On what’s happening, Angel explains: “Different developments can be observed – especially when it comes to upcoming designers and creators, which is very interesting yet inspiring. Newcomers are about either entering the industry or creating their own one; furthermore, they all developed a very high professionalism in everything they do and how they present their ideas.
“Storytelling matters, that’s why we see crafts that concern and that communicate about thoughts, materials and backgrounds. They somehow reflect on the state of the industry and/or they question current systems. Just with the eye on possibilities, not to add critique. It is a friendly way to inspire.”
And, developments themselves have been de rigeur in a way. Angel contextualises this: “Back in the days, let’s say about five years ago, there was mainly one person behind a new idea that was working within a tiny studio. Compared to that, everything is so much more professional: being a material designer, you can have a studio and work with employees who assist. That is nowadays how designers get ready to present their idea to the market.
“You need people who bridge the gap between the studio and the market. I personally recognise a huge potential in this point of professionalism, because people get ready to connect – young designers now offer representative samples and get in touch with the industry on a very professional level. Newcomers inspire the industry.” [Read more about Angel’s take on the subject in the Show Guide to be released by Munich Fabric Start.]
