FESPA says momentum is building for its inaugural Sportswear Pro - a new exhibition dedicated to sportswear manufacturing technology that will run alongside the flagship FESPA Global Print Expo 2020 from 24 to 27 March in Madrid.
Companies including Caron Technology, FK Group Spa, Perma Press AB, Tajima DST and Gemini CAD and have chosen Sportswear Pro 2020 to showcase their latest innovations in manufacturing technologies for sports and athleisure garments, such as heat transfer systems, fabric cutting equipment and automatic spreaders and loading systems.
The event is supported by AFYDAD, a Spanish trade association representing manufacturers, distributors and wholesalers of sports equipment and apparel.
“The ‘Pro’ in Sportswear Pro stands for ‘production,’” says Sportswear Pro 2020 exhibition manager Michael Ryan. “Our mission is to help sportswear manufacturers and apparel brands respond to the fastest moving trends in the market by giving them actionable insights into the technical innovations that are re-shaping every stage in the manufacturing process.
“Our exhibitors will be showing some inspiring examples of technologies that can enable lean, just-in-time production and personalisation, with an emphasis on reducing time to market, minimising waste and creating stand-out sports and athleisure garments that consumers can’t wait to buy.”
Sportswear Pro 2020 will include a dedicated theatre area with a ‘Triathcon’ Programme featuring streams of content specifically developed to address key trends shaping the sportswear and athleisure sectors, including customisation, on-demand production, sustainability and smart wearables. The full programme will be published in early 2020 and all sessions will be free to attend.
Visitors to Sportswear Pro 2020 will also have the chance to experience a live sportswear manufacturing showcase in Print Make Wear, a micro factory feature which will connect Sportswear Pro and the co-located FESPA Global Print Expo.
Print Make Wear will represent the full production process for sports and athleisure garments, featuring two distinct workflows. The first reflects a customised garment ordering scenario, enabling visitors to order sportswear items from an on-site kiosk. The second workflow begins with design software, progressing to nesting and production layout. Polyester garments will subsequently be printed using a roll-fed dye sublimation process before calendaring, laser cutting and sewing.
As the leading annual event for the speciality print community, FESPA Global Print Expo will feature numerous exhibitors dedicated to textile and garment printing and decoration. Printed sportswear on display within FESPA Global Print Expo will also be highlighted in a Visitor Trail, extending the experience for visitors to Sportswear Pro.
Visitor registration for Sportswear Pro 2020 is open now at www.sportswearpro.com/registration
Visitors can register free of charge using promotional code SWPM202. Without a code, registration costs 40 Euros online and 70 Euros onsite.
The Sportswear Pro visitor ticket also gives free access to FESPA Global Print Expo, including the Print Make Wear feature and content programme, and to European Sign Expo.
For more information on Sportswear Pro 2020 visit www.sportswearpro.com.
