Spring/Summer ‘24: Trend-setting Smart Textiles, Future Fabrics and New Technologies

Demanding, multi-layered and complex material and colour trends for Spring.Summer 2024 as well as questions about efficiency and transparency through digitalisation and sustainability – these were the predominant topics of the international fabric and denim trade shows Munich Fabric Start and Bluezone.

Long Story, Cut Short

Firmly anchored in the trends was a new awareness of responsibility for people and planet, the central importance of craftsmanship to the textiles industry.
The trend was towards a casual attitude; sexiness became practical and was found either in workwear or in functional styles.
The colour worlds ranged from light natural tones and off-white to pastel, bright power colours and warm, reddish shades of purple and brown to black.

Over 14,000 visitors from 58 countries, especially from the DACH region, Benelux, Scandinavia, the UK and Turkey, thronged Munch Fabric Start this year looking for trends and sourcing destinations.

The catchphrases for designers, buyers, product managers and decision-makers visiting Munich Fabric Start (January 24–26) and Bluezone (January 25–25) were finding new aesthetic and technological impulses, sharpening their own identity and increasing efficiency in a changing market environment characterised by cost pressure, high energy prices, inflation and recession.

Spring.Summer 24: The colour and material trends for Spring.Summer 24 were divided into the four sub-themes ‘Team Players’, ‘Global Manifestors’, ‘Exposers’ and ‘Nesters’ under the leitmotif ‘Dare & Care’.

The colour worlds ranged from light natural tones and off-white to pastel, bright power colours and warm, reddish shades of purple and brown to black.
The focus is on materials that evoke emotion on both a visual and tactile level – raw, robust and natural materials contrasted by shimmer, glitter, stretch and mesh.
The styles ranged from super-sexy, sheer and tight, to classic suit looks, extreme wide cuts and workwear elements.
Firmly anchored in the trends was a new awareness of responsibility for people and planet, the central importance of craftsmanship to the textile industry, inclusive design and the use of innovative approaches where possible.
Under the leitmotif ‘Discovery’, Bluezone invited all fashion people and denim experts to share moments together and discover and drive the latest highlights, innovations and changes in the industry.
‘Insta-Tok Life’, ‘One by One Theory’, ‘Modern Art Emporium’ and ‘Low Tech No Tech — this was how the trends clustered around topics influencing the denim world such as urban low-tech, art collabs, the colour and fit chaos of Gen Z and alpha consumers as well as inspiration from Instagram and Tik Tok.

Forum for ideas: More than 30 hours of trend lectures, discussions and presentations with over 90 experts from such diverse international companies as Assyst, Bluesign, Bossa, Circular.fashion, DMI, Fashion Revolution, Hachmeister & Partner, Isko, Marc O'Polo, Pantone, Peclers, Renewcell, Roland Berger, Veit, View Publications and Vizoo provided a fireworks display of inspiration and orientation never been seen before at Munich Fabric Start.

In addition to the trend forecasts, it was in particular the complex of issues surrounding the ongoing transformative sustainability changes in the industry —key words: supply chain law, EU legislation, binding digital product passport, circularity —that were examined from the most diverse angles.

What They Said:

Bluezone reflects the whole denim industry — from professionals to Gen Z. As the world is constantly changing, I think it’s great that we give gen z the opportunity to share their ideas. We need to bring generations together and gather worthy inputs and ideas and teach each other how to deal with the changes in the world.

— Pelin Birsen
Operations & Sustainability Director
Ereks Blue Matters

The interest in 3D applications is huge — especially in connection with the goal of increasing sustainability and efficiency as well as a real implementation in the product. From the idea directly to the knitting machine, from the fabric sample directly to the model, from the brand vision directly into the brand communication with digital twins and avatars – this is what we brought to life at the Assyst Experience together with our partners.

— Hans-Peter Hiemer
Managing Director
Assyst GmbH

I am very hopeful and optimistic that we are reaching a point where the vocabulary of the avant-garde of sustainable innovators can finally reach the language of the industry. To be inspired is like exercising a muscle. And now, after twelve editions of Keyhouse, I see that visitors have learnt that they need to continuously get excited about new things in order to get into a fit state for the future.

— Simon Angel
Curator
Sustainable Innovations

What are the KPIs for circularity? How can I measure them? How can we build up knowledge in this and how can we communicate internally? The questions we are asked here are application-oriented and at the same time complex. It is time to find the right individual answers to them.

— Mateusz Wielopolski
CEO & Co-Founder
Circulix

The Source Studio – we love it! We are participating for the first time and it is really successful. We had lots of appointments and unexpected new customers. Our product is 100% designed in Italy made in China. The German customers look for exactly this: finished garments with the perfection designed in Italy.

— Thi Thu Hong Truong
Sales Manager
OTS

Today was a good day. I believe in this fair. It is one of the most important fairs for the industry. It is the easiest place for the industry to get information. Those who come to our stand are looking for innovation and input. With our Track & Trace system, we offer a system solution for the supply chain set. We have been offering the tool for about 1.5. years. The demand is growing noticeably.

— Daniel Jung
Managing Director
Trimco Group

The market is a bit tough right now. We are struggling with customers having troubles with inflation, stocks and sales. So, the current time is about finding a way to fulfil the capacities, as there is a lack. But we are growing in the German market and this is why we are here for the first time – many of our German clients came here to visit us, we took appointments and had speeches in the panels. That’s why we’re already looking forward to be here for the second time in July 2023.

— Baris Izcimen
CEO & Co-Owner
Strom

Bluezone is a super organized tradeshow where everything went smoothly, just as usual. We highly appreciate how everyone here feels welcome – whether exhibitors or guests. What’s special yet worthy is the combination of denim with other segments, which results in a mixture that attracts numerous clients. As we use to make many appointments, we come here to actually work and be productive. What we observe in the market is something that we also recognized at Bluezone: it’s not an easy time. I’d wish for a more international visitor portfolio. But still – we expected a bigger economic downturn and it’s not as bad as expected. I feel that the industry is going back on track, slowly but steadily.

— Marco Lucietti
Director of Strategic Projects
ISKO

Spring/Summer ‘24: Trend-setting Smart Textiles, Future Fabrics and New Technologies

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