From the Sector

“The launch of VIATT's inaugural Trend Forum marks an important new step for this fair,” stated Ms Wilmet Shea, General Manager of Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd. “Leveraging Messe Frankfurt’s nearly three decades of leadership in coordinating apparel and home textiles trend forecasting – a track record of consistently setting industry benchmarks – we are now extending this unparalleled expertise to enlighten the entire textile value chain. Utilising the expertise of our top-level trend curators, this holistic approach is designed to deliver unparalleled insights, foster robust innovation, and empower businesses to anticipate and shape consumer preferences with greater precision and relevance.”
 
Acting as a unified set of principles that flows seamlessly across sectors, the LIFESTYLE TRENDS shape fashion choices, home interior design, and interactions with technical products and interfaces.
 
Mr Kai Chow, Lead Curator, VIATT Trend Forum and Creative Director of MUSEATIVE, explained the unique approach: “Rather than treating fashion, home, and technology as separate worlds, the Trend Forum presents lifestyle trends as a shared design language – one that shapes what we wear, how we live, and how we engage with the products around us. Instead of presenting trends in isolation, it demonstrates how a single mindset can influence products, spaces, and technologies simultaneously. Because these themes are rooted in human behaviour, they naturally scale across sectors – creating one coherent language that connects what we wear, how we live, and the materials and technologies that support everyday life.”
 
In this vibrant tapestry for S/S 2027, ARTISANSHIP is set to elevate style into a rarefied realm of artistry, with NeIlyRodi™ Agency bringing the four distinct themes to life:
 
TO WORK
This theme slows the rhythm of the city and transforms metropolitan living into an oasis of calm. In fashion, garments take the shape of fluid tailoring, softly draped dresses, and minimal separates. Interiors echo this sentiment, with cushions, throws, and drapery that create restorative sanctuaries within dense cityscapes.
 
It is expressed through a colour palette of soft, natural hues, accented by slate blue and black. Fabrics are notably soft, tactile, and sustainable. Design direction emphasises minimalist botanicals, tonal motifs, and organic lines. Applications span tailored separates, light outerwear, and city-chic loungewear in fashion; cushions and drapery for the home; and aesthetically innovative, wellness-tracking technical textiles.
 
TO RELAX 
Celebrating the season’s carefree spirit, this theme encapsulates the romance of leisure, expressed through light, airy, and deliberately imperfect fabrics. This mood is liberated by a jubilant blend of airy pastels and sun-soaked brights, including mint, aqua, and teal for freshness, a soft touch of blush and pink, and optimistic pops of vivid yellow and orange.
 
Fabrics include linen, cotton voile, chambray, and organic blends. Design direction highlights hand-drawn botanicals, romantic florals, nautical strips, and country checks. Applications include airy curtains and casual throws for the home; relaxed fashion pieces; and tech innovations focusing on functional performance, wellness tracking, and circular materials.
 
TO HAVE FUN
This theme presents an unapologetically dramatic counterpoint, unfolding a world of grandeur, decoration, and glamour. Terracotta, sage, and lavender establish a grounded base, while golden ochre, crimson, cobalt, and royal purple electrify the narrative with jewel-like vibrancy, balanced by the mysterious depth of deep teal and midnight blue. 
 
Luxurious fabrics and textures include ornate brocade, jacquard, beading and jewel. Design direction features baroque florals, ornate geometrics, and embellished surfaces. Applications span statement bedding and dramatic drapery for interiors; evening gowns and statement accessories in fashion; and textural, 3D-printed, and light-emitting textiles in tech.
 
TO CREATE
Being the most personal and expressive of the S/S 2027 narratives, this theme champions individuality and cultural storytelling. It blends earthy-warm colours with bold vibrancy, where terracotta reds, golden yellows, and forest greens echo artisanal roots, while teal and indigo provide modern contrast.
 
Fabrics and textures are notably natural and textural, encompassing hemp, bamboo blends, patchwork, and circular/recycled textiles. Design direction draws from cultural motifs, alongside painterly abstracts and hand-painted details. Applications range from fashion-forward layered streetwear and boho ensembles; to bold rugs and artistic throws for the home; to AI and digital design integration, protective textiles, and real-time data integration in tech.
 
Overall, trends will be an important aspect of the fair’s fringe programme. Mr Kai Chow will present the VIATT Lifestyle Trends Spring/Summer 2027 Seminar, along with two Trend Forum Introduction Tours taking place on 26 and 27 February in Hall B. The first tour will occur right after the seminar on Day 1 – ideal for fairgoers seeking more in-depth analysis.
 
In addition, the Thai Industrial Hemp Trade Association (TiHTA) will return to the fair to host a seminar focused on design and trends. The association aims to captivate global buyers with fashion designs that leverage organic raw materials and promote sustainable fashion made from hemp fibres. 
 
Meanwhile, Style Republik, Vietnam’s fashion media dedicated to championing and empowering the country’s fashion talents, will also lead a panel discussion on upcoming local fashion trends.
 
The Vietnam International Trade Fair for Apparel, Textiles and Textile Technologies (VIATT) is organised by Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd and the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency (VIETRADE). VIATT 2026 will be held from 26 – 28 February 2026.

DIGEL AG is strengthening its national and international presence with two new, representative locations in Düsseldorf and Munich, set to open for the Spring/Summer 2027 order season. With these two showrooms, the menswear company is making a clear statement for growth, internationality, and brand strength in the premium segment.

The new showroom in Düsseldorf is located in one of Germany’s most prestigious menswear environments, in the immediate vicinity of brands such as Boss, Strellson, and PVH. Spanning 550 square meters—around 30% larger than before—the two brands Digel and Digel Move will in future offer an exclusive brand experience in an urban lifestyle setting. In addition to order activities, the location will also be used as an event venue, for the DIGEL Academy, and for VIP customer events. Thanks to Düsseldorf’s central location and international character, more than 60% of export customers can be optimally served here, with further growth potential.

The new showroom in Munich will also take the Digel and Digel Move brands to the next level. Located in Lodenfrey Park and surrounded by leading premium labels, a modern space with a loft character and industrial style is being created—perfect for presenting the Digel DNA in an authentic and inspiring environment. Munich will not only become an important order location, but also a venue for exclusive press events, academy formats, and customer experiences.

With these new showrooms, DIGEL underscores its ambition to further expand premium menswear internationally while simultaneously fostering creative and collaborative exchange with retail partners and the press.

“With Düsseldorf and Munich, we are creating two exceptional spaces that make our brand emotionally tangible. Both locations combine aesthetics, functionality, and inspiration—exactly what DIGEL stands for,” explains Jochen Digel, CEO of DIGEL AG.

Ontex Group NV, a leading international developer and producer of personal care solutions, introduces a new adult incontinence range developed to offer superior protection while being gentle on the skin. The first products –Sensitive Pants, Sensitive Slip and Sensitive Form – will become gradually available for healthcare institutions across Europe.

Recent European research conducted by Ontex among more than 2,500 people living with incontinence shows that dermatitis and skin irritation remain widespread and have a meaningful impact on daily life. Almost 1 in 2 people living with incontinence have experienced dermatitis or skin irritation in the intimate area; with many describing significant discomfort and effects on confidence and wellbeing. Despite this high prevalence, “Around 80% of caregivers are not trained to recognize dermatitis. Education and better product design are key to preventing complications.” says Dr. Maria Panourgia, Geriatrician at the Milton Keynes University Hospital (UK).

These findings underline the urgent need for affordable, qualitative incontinence products that actively support skin health. The new Sensitive range has been developed precisely to answer this need—combining trusted protection with dermatological care to help prevent irritation and keep skin as healthy as possible.

To address the educational need, the Sensitive range is complemented with expert training advise on how to recognize, prevent and treat dermatitis related to incontinence. This is offered both through Ontex’s network of nurse advisors and through the online training platform Ontex Academy.

Sensitive range: powerful protection that respects the skin
The new Sensitive range combines proven incontinence protection with dermatological care. 

Sensitive Pants offer:

• Topsheet enriched with botanical ingredients – helps to prevent skin irritation
• Innovative Y-core technology – for instant dryness
• Faster absorption – up to 2.5x faster than previous iD or Serenity pants
• Hypoallergenic design – gentle on fragile skin
• Odour control technology – for lasting freshness and confidence

Tatiana Bumachar Carvalho Pastori, Sr Marketing Manager Adult Care concludes: “the Sensitive range was developed to help people with incontinence to live their everyday life more comfortable. At the same time, it offers professional caregivers a product they can rely on, making it easier for them to deliver the best possible care, supported by our training opportunities.”

The Argentine Textile Industry Federation (FITA), the Brazilian Textile and Apparel Industry Association (ABIT), and the European Apparel and Textile Confederation (EURATEX) continue to monitor the process of internalizing the Mercosur-European Union Partnership Agreement. This agreement is essential for the competitiveness of our industries, on both sides of the Atlantic. 

The entities remain confident that, despite the submission of the agreement to the Court of Justice of the European Union, the vision of the agreement's strategic role for both sides of the Atlantic will prevail.

For the textile industry, the agreement confirms the commitment to economic integration and predictable rules, as well as signalling support for multilateralism in a challenging global scenario. 

FITA, ABIT, and EURATEX reaffirm their commitment to actively contribute to this implementation process of the agreement, as well as to undertake other inter-regional and international projection actions that consolidate both blocs as relevant actors in the global economy.

The EU textiles and apparel industry includes ca. 200,000 companies and 1.2 million dedicated workers, generating a turnover of nearly €170 billion. 

The Mercosur countries also have a significant textile and clothing industry. In Brazil, this industry has 25,700 companies with 1.3 million employees and a turnover of USD 40.9 billion. In Argentina, the textile and clothing industry comprises 4,000 companies and employs 540,000 workers along the value chain.

The Mercosur-European Union Partnership Agreement offers the textile and apparel industry opportunities related to market access, technological cooperation, investment, strengthening of environmental standards for countries in both economic blocs.