GERMANY: New Show Spotlights Intelligent Textiles

Avantex is the international innovation forum for high-tech garment textiles and fashion engineering, and will make its debut in Frankfurt from 27 to 29 November 2000. The parallel exhibition and symposium aim to reveal future trends in the fields of lifestyle, functional and workwear textiles for the textile and garment manufacturing industries and, at the same time, to create the world's first exclusive information and communication platform for this sector.The symposium promises to offer 95 lectures on high-tech apparel textiles and fashion engineering. The European Union is the show's latest patron.The show's organisers hope that the high-tech emphasis will attract businesses throughout the supply chain that recognise the future of the industry is in intelligent garments rather than continual price cuts. The symposium aims to be a platform for new ideas and cooperation between research, industry and trade. The programme covers twelve areas: high-tech textiles; new fibres and yarns; high-tech fabrics; high-tech garments; making up; and e-commerce. "Advantex is based on an excellent concept. I believe that we must have the courage at this trade fair to show that we are all ready to adopt new approaches. This also includes the courage to experiment," said Ulrich Huwe, managing director of Trevira GmbH.Interest in the show has been greater than expected, with the result that the symposium was extended from two to three days. Exhibitors come from the whole supply chain, with considerable interest being show by non-EU countries, such as Japan and the USA.The symposium will be held parallel to the Avantex trade fair in Frankfurt from 27-29 November. For more information, visit the exhibition and symposium's website at