Munich Fabric Start (MFS) is gearing up for its January 27–29 edition. Designers, product managers, and buyers will be able to explore around 1,000 spring/ summer 2027 collections from international fabric and trim manufacturers at the MOC Munich.
Trade visitors can explore around 1,000 collections over the three days of the trade fair in Munich. – MUNICH FABRIC START
With the lead theme of “Pleasure,” the trade show’s organisers aim to spotlight “attitude, sensuality, and emotional materiality” over the three days of the fair. The lead theme frames fashion as an emotional space, an expression of attitude and cultural reflection. Colours, surfaces and materials become conduits for self-confidence and joie de vivre.
“After seasons of restraint, spring/ summer ’27 marks a deliberate counter-design: optimism, sensuality, and creative freedom take the place of pragmatism and neutrality. Physical presence and individuality are regaining importance- as a response to uncertainty, exhaustion and algorithmic predictability,” according to MFS.
“Efficiency and pragmatism are shaping current market developments. And these are not easy times for us as trade fair organisers either. We are countering this with a clearly structured trade fair and a strong positioning as a key source of inspiration, an interactive business forum, and a platform bringing together textile expertise. In terms of fashion and trends, we are heralding a change of perspective: optimism instead of restraint. Self-confidence instead of uncertainty,” adds managing director Florian Klinder.
With the integrated shows Bluezone, Keyhouse, and The Source, the trade fair brings together all relevant fashion segments: high-quality fabrics and trims, international denim expertise, and forward-looking innovations along the entire textile value chain. International reach, collaboration, and sustainability remain central themes.
Impressions from the summer edition of the trade fair. – MUNICH FABRIC START
The consolidation of the trade fair segments at the MOC has proven successful. The trade fair with its eight areas will once again be held under one roof.
Bluezone and Keyhouse with “Sustainable Innovations” will once again be anchored in the high-footfall area of Hall 2 at the upcoming event- directly connected to the Fabrics and Additionals areas.
The Design Studios in Hall 4 are now positioned even more centrally. And the sustainable sourcing area Resource is also set to have a stronger presence, located directly next to The Source in Hall 1.
To provide buyers and designers with a holistic overview, the Bluezone denim trends will be integrated directly into the trend worlds built around the lead theme in the MOC foyer. This new form of presentation reflects market developments in which denim and classic fashion segments are increasingly merging within collections.
Once again, numerous brands from the mainstream, premium and contemporary segments are expected, including Drykorn, shown here with menswear designer Fred M. Götz. – MUNICH FABRIC START
The exhibitors will once again include well-known names from the fabric and textile industry, including the Albini Group, Kiki Fashion, Calik, Lanificio di Tollegno, Bornemann Etiketten, Manteco, Pontetorto, Riopele, Thermore, Bureaux Bo, Can Tekstil, and Troficolor Denim Makers.
As usual, a supporting programme of keynotes, panel discussions, and trend presentations will round off the trade fair offering. Current industry topics will be discussed and contextualised on the “Stage” with Peclers Paris, David Shah, O/M Collective, Olivia Does Design, and Monsieur-T, among others. The curator of Sustainable Innovations, Simon Angel, will offer in-depth sessions on future-oriented, sustainable material solutions.
This article is an automatic translation. Click here to read the original article.
Designer Soshi Otsuki won himself a huge ovation at the key gala show of Pitti Uomo on Thursday after presenting a brilliant collection that celebrated classic western tailoring, even as it subverted its codes.
Soshiotsuki’s take on tailoring at Pitti – FashionNetwork.com
A tour de force of draping, cutting, and silhouette, this fall 2026 collection from his brand Soshiotsuki was definitely a major fashion statement.
In a moment of volume in menswear, Otsuki opened the action with a perfectly judged trio of to-die-for double-breasted suits with peak lapels in crepe and fine wool in various shades of grey- cement, mud, or dove.
He cut his jackets to end well below the hip and his trousers were something else. Made with a half-dozen front pleats, they were elephantine but never outrageous. Otsuki is such a great natural tailor, the exaggeration merely added to the elegance.
Soshiotsuki – FashionNetwork.com
Soshi is no slouch when it comes to leather either. From his copper-hued leather rock god suit to his cocoon style leather bomber jacket. And, just when you thought he was playing a little too safe, he sent out some fab jeans, so degraded they almost looked moth-eaten. Tokyo street style meets sartorial Italian.
Playing on couture techniques, the designer also whipped up several bias-cut green corduroy blazers and suits marrying Japanese eccentricity and British aplomb.
The show was the latest Italian/Japanese marriage at this edition of Pitti that began with a Sebiro Sanpo tailoring association Japanese suit march inside the Fortezza da Basso, the giant fortress where the salon is staged. Remarkably, Otsuki has never actually studied suiting formally, but he somehow understands it instinctively.
Soshiotsuki – FashionNetwork.com
The soundtrack, culled from composer Joe Hisaishi’s soundtrack to Takeshi Kitano’s 2000 gangster movie Brother, featured a beautifully yearning saxophone solo. It would have felt just right for one of Douglas Sirk’s 1950s melodramas starring Rock Hudson. One almost expected Rock to take the final passage.
Presented inside the beautiful Refetterio Santa Maria della Novella, a looming Gothic refectory at the back of the legendary Renaissance Basilica, this was a bravura display.
Altogether, a bases loaded, home run, smash hit collection. One could say it felt like a star is born moment in menswear, except that Soshi Otsuki was already acclaimed. He is the latest winner of the LVMH Prize.
Talk about backing up winning an award with a great fashion statement.
Maybe the economic outlook isn’t as gloomy as some predict, especially for fashion retail. Despite ongoing economic pressures, UK consumers “continue to prioritise fashion spending, with value-led and demand-responsive brands emerging strongest”, a cheerier report from MediaVision claims.
‘Brand search leader’ Next
Analysing real-time consumer search behaviour, tracking how demand shifted during the final quarter of 2025 and identifying the brands best positioned for growth in 2026, step forward Primark, Vinted, Next, M&S and Selfridges, with the first two leading the battle in the ‘affordability’ category.
Over the past quarter, Primark and Vinted emerged as the fastest-growing fashion brands in terms of share of search. Primark led the way with the value retailer increasing its share of search by +0.65 on a search score of 3.88% with Vinted (2.24% brand search) slightly behind at +0.47.
“Their growth highlights a growing consumer preference towards affordability and value, with shoppers increasingly opting either for lower-cost new fashion or turning to second-hand platforms like Vinted as a way to maximise value”, the report said.
Meanwhile, Next “continued to dominate overall brand share of search in Q4 (5.67%/+0.43 increase), “maintaining its position at the top of the market while continuing to grow… maintaining strong consumer interest and engagement heading into 2026”, the report said.
M&S and Selfridges were also given the briefest of mentions, given their share of brand search came into the top five, 2.85%/+0.39, for the former and 1.68%/+0.16 for the latter.
The report also revealed the three big high street names with declining brand searches were led by Sports Direct, whose share of brand search (4.21%) dipped 0.3 year-on-year, followed by TK Maxx (4.06%/-0.19) and John Lewis (3.71%/-0.26).
Louis Venter, CEO at MediaVision said: “Consumer search behaviour is shifting faster than most brands can track, and in fashion, the margin between capturing demand and losing it often comes down to weeks, not months. The quarter reveals a market in motion, with fashion still commanding the majority of share of wallet across retail sectors and high-street fashion dominating at category level.”
Adam Bly, MediaVision growth director added: “Fashion holds a commanding, growing share, even if you were to disregard the short-term spike of Black Friday. Farther down the pecking order ‘nice-to-have’ and ‘need-to-have’ categories battle it out, but it appears that consumers continue to make sure a decent amount of buying power is set aside for Fashion, even whilst tail and headwinds appear to hit other markets with considerable force.”
Luxury skincare brand Genaura has promoted Nicola Young to managing director, moving up from chief marketing officer following the brand’s product launch to market in September.
Genaura
Young’s promotion is underscored by “an impressive career”, which has included senior positions at Carlton Screen Advertising, marketing director at Jazz FM and Magic 105.4FM, and group director of Marketing at radio conglomerate Global Player.
Most notably, her beauty industry involvement included director of Media UK at Estée Lauder Co.
Young said the launch of Genaura “has the potential to revolutionise the beauty and wellness sector… my experience in this field has helped drive the marketing vision so far, and I look forward to progressing even further”.
She added: “Looking to… the growth of Genaura, I am excited to scale and innovate whilst remaining authentic to the scientific background of the product, planning global recognition of this revolutionary ingredient exclusive to Genaura.”
Available in the UK currently, the business has “aspirations for 2026 and beyond… extending skincare products within the range.”
Genaura claims to be a “world first in skincare”, with its Genaura Levagen + Smart Face serum “boasting a powerhouse formula alongside patented technology… creating an ‘age-proofing’ approach to the skin and supporting the skin’s natural barrier function”.