MarediModa, the leading trade fair for Made-in-Europe fabrics and accessories for the beachwear, lingerie and athleisure sectors, reaffirms its central role on the international stage. The 2025 edition, held at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes from 22 to 24 October, recorded significant growth in both attendance (+3%) and the calibre of visitors.

“Over the three days of the fair we saw an increase in buyers compared with 2024,” said Claudio Taiana, president of MarediModa, in a statement, “particularly in the high and upper-mid segments of the market, with major international brands and luxury groups in attendance. By contrast, small brands and start-ups were slightly down. Italy once again ranks first by number of visitors (30%), followed by France, Spain – showing strong growth – the United Kingdom and Germany. Our customary end-of-fair survey also indicates more concrete decision-making and a renewed creative drive.”

Among the highlights of the 23rd edition was a focus on Spring/Summer 2027 trends curated by David Shah, titled “Making Waves”. A genuine call for change: making waves means going beyond the familiar, challenging convention and generating a profound and lasting impact on the fashion world.

Three projects captured the attention of visitors and exhibitors: Flash! celebrated the world of the sea with cutting-edge fabrics, exclusive prototypes and editorial photo shoots; Ath, with the claim “Freedom is not for sale”, explored the dynamism of athleisure, blending fashion and sport in a narrative of freedom and performance; Seam showcased the savoir-faire of third-party garment manufacturers, the essential link between creativity and realisation.

This year, The Link, the long-running talent-scouting competition dedicated to young designers from Europe’s most prestigious schools that encourages them to reinvent the codes of beachwear, underwear and athleisure, broke its records, with 128 entries from 37 countries, underscoring the initiative’s international scope and cultural value.

“Almost all of this year’s projects,” reads the jury’s report, “convey a positive and vital message, marked by a desire to rewrite the language of fashion with new symbols that are brighter, more inclusive and optimistic.”

During the event, the nine finalists presented their collections in dedicated spaces and in a catwalk show staged with the support of MarediModa and its exhibitors, who provided materials and technical assistance.

The winners of The Link 2025 were: for Beachwear, Mattia D’Aquila (Italy), Accademia PBS; for Underwear, Reka Kinga Bartha (Hungary), University of Art and Design in Cluj-Napoca; and for Athleisure, Michele Zazzeroni (Italy), Next Fashion School by Carlo Secoli.

But reaching the final is already a prize in itself, to the extent that the plaque awarded is the same for everyone, so the other two finalists in Beachwear, namely Emma Parastoo Kianinia (Iran, second) and Victoria Minascurta (Moldova, third); in Underwear, namely Marielena Nicolau (Cyprus, second) and Jessica Twomey (United Kingdom, third); and in Athleisure, namely Marta Fanciulli (Italy, second) and Melissa Isacco (Italy, third), should also be mentioned.

There was also space for the now customary awards recognising companies in the sector that have reached significant business anniversaries: France’s Interlinge, which marked 25 years; Italy’s Seride, which in 2025 celebrated 50 years in business; and France’s Plymouth Française, which reached an impressive 90 years in existence.