The international fabric trade show Munich Fabric Start along with its show-in-show concepts Bluezone, Keyhouse, and The Source, present the latest material innovations from over 625 international exhibitors across five halls and eight areas from January 21–22, 2025.
In a complex reality defined by constant uncertainty and new beginnings, the event offers forward-thinking examples of how creativity can flourish, how courage can open new perspectives, and how change can be actively shaped.
Sustainable Innovations
Simon Angel is curator of the Sustainable Innovations forum at Munich Fabric Start since 2016. This edition showcases the more than 200 m2 exhibition that includes work by Dutch designers Milou Voorwinden, Daan Sonnemans & Anabel Poh, Shushanik Droshakiryan, Oscar Wentz, Beatriz Isca and Nicky Vollebregt.
Milou Voorwinden is a textile designer and researcher specialising in weaving. In her work, she explores how weaving techniques can transform textiles from flat structures to three-dimensional objects. She’s skilled in both handweaving and industrial looms, and she has extensive jacquard design experience.
Daan Sonnemans & Anabel Poh – The Social Club, emerging from the heart of Kantamanto, stands as a dynamic platform uniting diverse individuals in the fight against fast fashion. It serves as a creative collective for circularity, where people from all walks of life can converge to showcase and appreciate the unique work of the Kanta community. The Social Club is a rallying point, spotlighting the community’s efforts in repurposing and upcycling, urging everyone to reconsider the impact of their fashion choices.
Shushanik Droshakiryan – Driven by interdisciplinary biomaterial research, Psychedelic Textiles are designed from an unusual combination of raw Dutch wool combined with an unusual mix of coffee waste, charcoal, and chocolate.
Oscar Wentz – Most clothing is worn and loved for a short period of time. It is discarded long before it is worn out. ‘Afterlife’ is a collection of garments, solely created out of existing clothing pieces. The shape and materiality of these pieces dictate the final designs. Oscar invites you to have fun with the garments that are already there, rather than consuming anew.
Beatriz Isca is a designer, researcher and maker passionate about reimagining the systems of today and speculating the preferred futures of tomorrow. Through her work, she investigates the possibilities for local and circular systems that place more than-human nature at the center.
Nicky Vollebregt is a designer and researcher focussing on textile craft and industrial textile techniques. She specialises in studying the technical, functional and aesthetic dimensions of woven structures, exploring form, colour, transformation and user interaction.
This article is a contribution by Leonne Cuppen
