ISPO Munich, Europe’s leading outdoor sport and equipment trade show, is reinventing itself by adopting a revised layout and a new schedule. The goal is to adapt to the industry’s needs, in order to preserve its status as one of the top trade shows in Europe. ISPO will still be held at the Messe München Trade Fair Centre, in the eastern part of Munich, Germany.
ISPO MUNICH
ISPO Munich is changing its calendar by starting on a Sunday ISPO MUNICH
ISPO Munich’s 2025 edition will welcome visitors and exhibitors from November 30 to December 2. The show was previously held mid-week, but will now start on a Sunday, a decision taken to better cater to small businesses. “Choice of dates is a crucial factor for a trade show’s success. In our opinion, tweaking the show’s schedule is a clear signal that ISPO is responding to industry needs. [Opening the event on] Sunday gives smaller retailers greater flexibility, making it easier for them to attend the show,” said Margit Gosau and Dominik Solleder, CEOs of Sport 2000 International.
Facilitating knowledge transfer
While the Outdoor show will not be held in 2025 due to a lack of participants, ISPO Munich is also relying on a new exhibition layout to generate fresh momentum. The event’s sections will be split up among three thematic areas. The ‘Brands and Products’ area brings together exhibitors showcasing innovative products belonging to various categories. Brands specialising in the lifestyle segment, featuring the more creative side of directional outdoor products that capture the contemporary zeitgeist, will exhibit in Hall A1. Hall A2 is dedicated to functional innovations and sustainable solutions by outdoor brands, and Hall A3 will showcase the latest racket sport trends. Still within the ‘Brands and Products’ area, Hall B2 will present indoor and outdoor fitness solutions, and will be the venue of the ISPO Award, in the Training and Performance section. The area’s final section, Health and Wellness in Hall B1, is a novelty, highlighting the growing importance of the connection between sport and well-being.
The new layout of the ISPO Munich show
Hall B1 will also host the ISPO Brandnew section, presenting innovative sport industry start-ups as part of the second thematic area, ‘Commerce and Experience’. The latter will also include two conference areas, which have been set up closer to the show via the redesigned west entrance. The idea is to make networking and the transfer of knowledge and new ideas an integral part of the show’s activity. “We want to facilitate interaction right where industry professionals are meeting, at the heart of the show,” said Saskia Rettenbacher, head of event management at ISPO. Among the events planned during the show are the international Sport Brand Media conference (formerly Sport.Marke.Medien), the educational forum for professional sports trainers, and Sports Tech Nation. Details of other scheduled conferences are being finalised.
Sport influencers, ISPO Munich’s new communication tool
The third and final thematic area, ‘Upstream and Supply’, will be the venue for promoting sustainable materials and innovative manufacturing methods. Procurement specialists, designers and product development specialists will be able to find new solutions and technologies for avant-garde sporting products in this area. The ISPO Textrends Award for ground-breaking textiles (in Hall B3) completes the event’s focus on sustainable solutions, while the Supply Chain Forum (in Hall C4) will showcase best practices for resilient supply chains.
ISPO Munich will benefit from the cancellation of the Outdoor trade show’s 2025 edition – ISPO Munich/Thomas Plettenberg
In addition to introducing a new exhibition layout, ISPO Munich intends to boost its visibility by staging the International Sports Influencer Summit. Professional influencers invited to the show will be covering the event on social media. To make the new format even more effective, ISPO is introducing a new digital networking tool, facilitating the creation of ad hoc networks and exploiting the show’s commercial potential before, during and after the event.
ISPO Munich’s previous edition, focused on the circular economy and sustainability, featured 2,300 exhibitors and attracted 55,000 visitors.
Skims has opened the doors to its first-ever West Coast flagship store, in Los Angeles.
Skims opens first West Coast flagship store in Los Angeles. – Skims
Designed by the design studio Rafael de Cárdenas, Ltd., the 4,546-square-foot space is characterized by the intimate, body-focused aesthetic that defines Skims.
Notable features include the brand’s signature rounded-edge fixtures, custom tonal mannequins, and a seamless shopping layout. A 12-foot sculpture by Vanessa Beecroft welcomes visitors, while a sophisticated mix of Corian, ultrasuede, and carefully curated lighting complete the space.
The new flagship houses products for both women and men, including best-selling collections like Fits Everybody, Cotton, and Ultimate Bras. Customers will also have access to exclusive drops, such as the NikeSkims collection, and an LA-exclusive ‘Skims loves LA’ merchandise line.
“Opening a Skims store in Los Angeles is a full-circle moment. This city has been a huge part of my life, and having a space here where people can experience the brand in person makes it even more special”, said Kim Kardashian, co-founder & chief creative officer. “We’re just getting started, and I can’t wait for what’s ahead.”
The store opening follows the launch of multiple new locations across the U.S including its New York Fifth Avenue flagship, with even more locations planned for 2025. Other stores can be found in Georgetown, Aventura, Austin, Houston, and Atlanta.
“Los Angeles has always been an important market for Skims and the place we call home, so opening a flagship store here was the natural next step,” added Jens Grede, co-founder & CEO, Skims. “Seeing our standalone stores come to life has been incredible, and we’re excited to keep expanding, giving both new and loyal customers a space to fully experience Skims.”
To celebrate the launch, Skims is collaborating with Mel’s Drive-In to create Skims Drive-In, a reimagined dining experience running from April 2nd to April 6th. The historic diner will undergo a Skims-inspired transformation, featuring a custom photo booth, an exclusive menu, and signature design elements infused into Mel’s retro aesthetic.
Luxury fashion label Vivienne Westwood made its India debut with its first-ever fashion show celebrating the country’s rich textile heritage at the iconic Gateway of India in Mumbai.
Vivienne Westwood makes India debut with fashion show in Mumbai – Vivienne Westwood
The fashion show with a 166-feet-long runway featured a selection of spring/summer 2025 Vivienne Westwood looks and special archive pieces alongside a capsule collection crafted with the hand-woven fabrics from India.
The special capsule collection included fabrics like chanderi silks, khadi cotton, wool and silk sourced from across India by Khadi India and Aaranya from Madhya Pradesh.
The fashion event was attended by Royal families from across India, Bollywood personalities, designers, and industry influencers.
Commenting on the show, Andreas Kronthaler, creative director at Vivienne Westwood in a press release said, “India is such a vast country, so rich with history and culture and we are honoured to be showing here at the monumental Gateway of India. I loved getting to know the Khadi and Chanderi fabrics – there is a lightness, a crispiness, an opulence, and a feeling that there is something behind them- it is the culture of India.”
Carlo D’Amario CEO of Vivienne Westwood added, “We are honoured to present a show in India and to create a collection which celebrates India’s rich textile heritage and traditional hand-woven industries. At Vivienne Westwood we have long championed craftsmanship and heritage and have partnered for decades with local industries and artisans in the UK, as well as in Europe and Africa, and are now proud to partner with the artisanal hand-crafted textile industry of India for this show.”
The show was organised in partnership with the Department of Textiles, Government of Maharashtra and Vivz Fashion School.
Boux Avenue’s relationship with Liverpool One has been so positive, the lingerie brand is upgrading to a permanent new store at the major retail and leisure destination.
Boux Avenue
The new store is set to open on 17 April on the venue’s Lower South John Street.
Key ranges include signature lace and exclusively embroidered lingerie collections alongside style/comfort ranges for nightwear and swimwear.
With summer next on the agenda, Boux Avenue said it continues to also be the “one-stop destination for holiday essentials. And its bra-fitting service (spanning A-G cup sizes) advises on the best size and style for bust shape, can be either a walk-in or bookable service.
To celebrate the opening day afternoon, Boux Avenue will be offering a goody bag worth £24 for the first 50 shoppers who spend £40-plus, while the store will also be hiding Golden Tickets to win Boux Avenue gift cards worth up to £100. Early evening celebrations will include a live DJ set, drinks and free embroidery to personalise a purchase.
Further celebrations between 18-20 April will include the free embroidery service to personalise purchases.
The news comes after we heard that digital fashion brand Arne is moving into permanent physical retail territory for the first time and has chosen Liverpool One for its debut.
The mall has also enhanced its premium retail watch line-up with the arrival of Breitling making its city debut.
But it’s not all about openings as Harvey Nichols is also closing its long-established three-storey Beauty Bazaar store there.