T
Sidónios Seamless Tech and Color For Tex shared their assessment of ISPO Munich with T Jornal this morning, in an edition where the absence of major brands was noticeable and the fair appeared to be more strongly oriented towards sourcing.
“The historical advantage of ISPO was precisely the combination of brands and sourcing, allowing us to see brand-driven trends,” says Bruno Sidónio, Head of Sales at Sidónios Seamless Tech.
In this edition, the company focused on merino yarns and new seamless production technologies, which it was able to showcase, though not to the desired extent, as the addition of Sunday to the trade fair calendar did not result in a higher attendance of retailers.
When asked about the fair’s move to Amsterdam, Bruno Sidónio assures that Sidónios will be there, “with an experience-driven approach”.
Hélder Coelho, from the management board of Color For Tex, also confirms a lower attendance of brands and a less productive Sunday, but prefers to focus on the positive outcome of the novelties presented: the company’s growing product offering, which now includes cycling and yoga.
“The collection was well received,” he told T Jornal.
Color For Tex has been increasingly working with a strong focus on sustainability: currently, more than 50% of its products are made from recycled raw materials, with the goal of reaching 100% within two years. A target that can only be achieved collectively, with brands “rowing in the same direction,” adds Hélder Coelho.
“We are in a transition phase. We can say the year was a good one; it will be another year of growth for the company, which validates our bet on customized products.”
Color For Tex’s strategy also involves opening up to new disciplines, beyond core sports such as basketball. Hélder Coelho notes that the company is already taking steps into activewear and is moving towards embracing streetwear in its portfolio, always with a strong focus on the customer and personalization.