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WAT is returning to Performance Days for the second year with a proposal focused on durability, while remaining aligned with this edition’s theme — Textile to Textile. Its offering includes garments made from recycled polyamide, recycled polyester and recycled cotton, reflecting an increasingly conscious approach. “The most important thing is to offer garments that last for years,” emphasised Júlia Soares, area manager, in statements to T Jornal.
Specialised in the sports segment, the company brought a diverse range to the fair, targeting different niches and combining various production techniques such as flatlock seams, bonding and laser cutting, among others. Among the new developments, Júlia Soares highlights a surf poncho developed for one of the editions of ISPO, featuring a pocket with water-repellent properties designed to keep surfers’ belongings safe. The innovation even earned the company an award from the fair itself.
Performance Days is currently a strategic platform for WAT, both for attracting new clients and strengthening existing business relationships. Although she acknowledges that the October edition delivered better results, Júlia Soares considers it to remain a benchmark event for those operating in sports market niches. “We work extensively with startups and companies in the implementation phase. Our client is specific and positioned in the mid to high-end segment,” she explained.
However, she also points to concerns over unfair competition from Asia, which has been flooding the market with ultra fast fashion products. “From here to there, everything is required; from there to here, the same rules are not enforced,” she argued. This context, combined with global unpredictability, has been creating significant impacts on the business.
Regarding the conflict in the Middle East, Júlia Soares admits that WAT is already beginning to feel its effects, particularly through rising supplier prices. According to her, these costs cannot be easily passed on to clients nor absorbed internally, especially if the situation persists. “We already operate with very tight margins to remain competitive. Absorbing increases of €3 per metre of fabric is not easy. Printing companies are also raising prices due to natural gas costs,” she added.
For 2026, the ambition remains clear: to grow in a sustained manner. On the agenda is participation in Première Vision Paris in September, following very positive results from the latest edition.