PromoTex Expo 2020: Sustainability strikes a Chord

Re-Cycling. Up-Cycling. Circular Economy. Those visiting PromoTex Expo in 2020 could not avoid being confronted with sustainability. “Three quarters of Germans attach importance to sustainable fashion. They want to know how their apparel is manufactured, and rightly so. This is why I am delighted that Promotex Expo places sustainability centrestage in 2020,” says Dr. Gerd Müller, Federal Minister of Economic Cooperation and Development. He took over the patronage of PromoTex Expo where 110 exhibitors, 80% of them from abroad, demonstrated the ecological, economic and social commitment of the textile industry. In total, 16,367 textile producers, signmakers, promotional products distributors, agencies and marketers attended the trade show.

For the second time now PromoTex Expo was held concurrently with the two trade shows PSI and viscom. Sustainability was the recurring theme at all three trade shows. The Textile Campus as a central port of call provided textile experts with an overview of sustainable possibilities and best practice in the textile business. “Together with the Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development and ‘Der grüne Knopf’ we held the sector to account regarding the stepping up of efforts for sustainable production and fair working conditions,” says Petra Lassahn, Director of PromoTex Expo, explaining the focal theme of the trade show.

Anosha Wahidi, Head of Staff for Sustainable Supply Chains at the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), also found that exhibitors and visitors take great interest in this topic. “This confirms to us at BMZ that we have the finger on the pulse. We have to encourage companies to make their sustainability management even more visible. The trade show is a very important networking event for doing this. We still have some way to go but policymakers, business and, in the final analysis, also consumers have to join us on this path.”

Textile Re- und Up-Cycling are Trending

While many materials are already produced sustainably the next challenge now is their recyclability. How to achieve this was demonstrated not by just one but a number of exhibitors at the show. “The development and live production of a capsule collection from garments donated by visitors in collaboration with the pop-up sewing factory and other exhibitors went down very well,” rejoices Manuel Krings, co-founder of “Hehlerei”. In the run-up to the trade show trade visitors had been called upon to bring their old clothes to the exhibition centre where they were sewn, repurposed and finished to be offered to the next consumer in a circular economy. The resulting garments were celebrated on the catwalk in a closing event. Pure Waste also showcased a collection made entirely from recycled materials right down to the cotton.

Textiles made of Cork and Paper

Many textile experts came to Düsseldorf in search of something – like Peter Weiß, Managing Director of Kettel- und Stickdienst Weiß. Specialised in textile finishing this was already his third time at the trade show: “I am particularly interested in innovations in the fields of print and embroidery at PromoTex Expo. Here I can assess the quality of the finished products so much better than in catalogues and talk to the exhibitors one on one.”

There were textiles made of such innovative materials as cork, paper and organic cotton to be discovered. Likewise, durable and high-quality products were in focus at numerous exhibition stands. ARC’TERYX Equipment Amer Sports, for example, now also offers high-quality jackets for B2B use and Tailor Konfektion has extended its range to include a corporate fashion line.

Second Time Round: Successful Trade Fair Alliance

For the second time now PromoTex Expo was held in parallel with PSI and viscom. Together they mapped the complete World of Advertising and Selling and showcased products from textile, haptic and visual advertising. A concept that has its finger on the pulse. “We welcome the synergies generated by the three trade shows held here concurrently,” says Rainer Schlatmann, Editor Bremen Cotton Report, Bremer Baumwollbörse, and adds: “The market already has a more holistic mindset. This is why we feel that the small-scale segmentation we used to have with the stand-alone events is no longer up to date.”

Laura Powott, UK Brand Ambassador at Mantis World, also backs this trade show concept: “The interplay of the three trade shows allowed us to welcome more diversity among visitors at our stand. Sustainability was the top theme. This could be felt everywhere at the trade shows.”

Next Year PromoTex Expo, PSI and viscom will be held in Düsseldorf from 12 to 14 January 2021.

Note: Visitor, exhibitor and exhibition space numbers stated for PSI, viscom and PromoTex Expo are established and certified in accordance with the uniform definitions of the FKM – Society for the Voluntary Control of Trade Fair and Exhibition Statistics.

Exhibitor Testimonials

“Three quarters of Germans attach importance to sustainable fashion. They want to know how their apparel is manufactured, and rightly so. This is why I am delighted that Promotex Expo places sustainability centrestage in 2020. With the help of a specifically colour-coded “green route” visitors can learn about sustainability and visit sustainable exhibitors. There are more textile companies than many might think. 27 of them were the first to receive the “Grüner Knopf” symbol in September 2019 – the state-issued symbol for socially and sustainably produced textiles.”
Dr. Gerd Müller, Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development

“There was avid interest in the “Grüner Knopf” and in sustainability in general at PromoTex Expo. This confirms to us at BMZ that we are striking precisely the right chord with this sustainability seal. We have to encourage companies to make their sustainability management even more visible. The trade show is a very important networking format for doing so. There is still a long way to go but policymakers, business and, in the final analysis, also consumers have to take this road together.”
Anosha Wahidi, Head of Staff for Sustainable Supply Chains at the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)

“For Bremer Baumwollbörse it is very interesting to be present at trade shows such as PromoTex Expo and disseminate objective information about cotton as a raw material. We’ve seen that there is demand for it. There was a great deal of footfall at our stand and we successfully managed to create a better understanding of cotton.

We welcome the synergies generated by the three concurrently held trade shows. The market already has a more holistic mindset. This is why we feel that the small-scale segmentation we used to have with the stand-alone events is no longer up to date. After all, printers and textile producers are collaborating directly today and use ultra-modern technologies in manufacturing thanks to digitalisation.”
Rainer Schlatmann, Editor Bremen Cotton Report, Bremer Baumwollbörse

“This was our debut at PromoTex Expo and we loved it! The development and live production of a capsule collection of garments donated by visitors in collaboration with the pop-Up Nähfabrik and other exhibitors was received very well. The whole trade show participation was great fun and what’s best: we had many very interesting conversations. We are still a very small company and really enjoyed getting a feel for the market here. For next year we have already developed new ideas and look forward to being back again.”
Manuel Krings, Co-Founder, Die Hehlerei

“We thought the PromoTex Expo was wonderful! We had very high-quality conversations at our stand with people from a wide variety of industries and the most varied backgrounds. Thanks to the alliance of the three trade shows were able to welcome a more diverse range of visitors at our stand. Sustainability was the top theme. After working for 20 years in this field we are particularly delighted to see that the industry has now started a re-think. This could be felt everywhere at the shows.”
Laura Powott, UK Brand Ambassador, Mantis World

“We are generally satisfied. Footfall at our stand was higher than last year. We were pleased with the higher percentage of international visitors compared to German visitors; they primarily found their way to us from Scandinavia, Russia and Poland. For us PromoTex Expo is an appropriate platform to make a presence and establish communication with our customers. This is rather about PR than business for us.”
Rafat Zieba, Sales Director, ADLER CZECH a.s.

“Our participation at PromoTex Expo was a premiere. We were positively surprised about the high number of visitors – of high quality – we attracted to our stand on this our first appearance. Our aim is to establish our distribution network in this region, across Germany and internationally. To sum up, we were able to have many good conversations with participants from both national and international markets so that we are very satisfied.
We have observed that promotion wear distributors take a growing interest in launching workwear. Many distribution partners view this as additional business.”
Torben Henriksen, Country Manager Deutschland, Mascot international GmbH

www.promotex-expo.com