For a long time, performance was defined technically: higher, faster, more durable. Yet performance is more than function. Or, to put it precisely: comfort, haptics, design and responsibility are equally decisive. Particularly in the development of functional textiles, it becomes clear that expectations are changing. Alongside technical capability, wearability, aesthetics and sustainability now carry equal weight. Performance must not only prove itself. It must feel right.
This holistic perspective also shapes PERFORMANCE DAYS, the leading trade fair for functional textiles, which makes innovation, sustainability and material expertise visible and understandable along the entire value chain.
A new definition of performance
Women, whether as designers, strategists, developers or curators, are bringing rising expectations into the world of performance. Function alone is no longer sufficient. Materials must offer comfort, freedom of movement and a pleasant hand feel. At the same time, awareness of origin, responsibility and circularity is increasing. Sustainability is not an add-on. It is part of the quality definition. Anna Schuster, Head of Sustainability at PERFORMANCE DAYS, describes this shift: “The term performance is not being redefined; rather, there has been a shift in how products are designed, developed and evaluated.” Today, performance encompasses the entire life cycle: “A material is only truly future-proof if it not only performs in use, but is responsibly developed from the outset, makes optimal use of resources and considers end-of-life from the very beginning.” It is no longer about isolated values, but about how everything interacts.
Performance begins on the skin
This development becomes particularly visible in the Bodywear Area. What was once considered a niche segment is now a strategic core area of the fair. Bodywear represents the most immediate form of performance, directly on the body. “The Bodywear Area has evolved from a specialized segment into a central element of PERFORMANCE DAYS,” says initiator Nichole de Carle of London Contour Experts. “It is a platform for innovation in fabrics, functionality and design, and it increasingly influences broader apparel trends.” Because bodywear is worn so close to the skin, the definition of performance shifts here as well. “Since bodywear sits directly on the skin, performance is not defined solely by stretch or support,” explains Nichole. “Comfort, breathability, moisture management and intelligent construction that adapts to the body’s movement are crucial.” Here, a perspective shaped strongly by women in design and development contexts becomes visible: performance does not end with laboratory data. It begins with how a material feels, with freedom of movement, with how naturally it integrates into everyday life.
Expectations meet reality
In practice, it becomes clear how demanding implementation truly is. Clarissa Stadelmann, Head of Product at PERFORMANCE DAYS, puts it succinctly: “Everyone talks about circularity, but so far it barely exists. There are many pilot projects, but few truly functioning, scaled-up processes.” This becomes particularly evident in water-repellent finishes: “PFAS-free alternatives do not yet consistently achieve the desired performance.” Added to this is growing complexity: “The large number of certificates and verifications makes comparability difficult.” Performance is therefore determined not only by product properties, but also by whether sustainability claims are verifiable and comparable.
Performance must feel right
Regina Goller, Head of Material Strategy & Future Trends at PERFORMANCE DAYS, describes the evolving requirements for functional textiles: “Materials of the future must not only be circular, but also comfortable: elastic, thermoregulating, adaptive.” From a female perspective in particular, performance does not end with measurable data. It reveals itself in wearability, in real freedom of movement and in the natural way a material feels on the skin and integrates into everyday life. Many female designers and product developers do not think of performance as pure functional enhancement, but as balance: function, aesthetics, comfort and responsibility belong together. A material must not only protect or regulate, it must feel good, look good and endure over time. Regina Goller deliberately refers to natural role models: “In nature, we find the best adaptive examples: wool, silk, down, linen, hemp.” These materials combine functionality with comfort and design quality, attributes that now stand side by side within today’s definition of performance.
The heart of the fair: The Trend Forum
This expanded definition of performance becomes visible in the Trend Forum, the center of PERFORMANCE DAYS. The Experts Jury, led by Alexa Dehnel, selects innovations not according to short-term hype, but based on long-term relevance for the industry. Each exhibit is carefully chosen. Materials are explained and placed within broader contexts. The Trend Forum does not simply display fabrics, it creates an overview. In spring, the focus topic “Textile to Textile – The Role of Collectors & Sorters” takes center stage. The attention is deliberately directed toward the structural foundations of circular systems: material flows, sorting logic, infrastructure. The focus is not on the spectacular individual material, but on the interaction of all stakeholders along the chain. Circularity is not understood here as an isolated recycling solution, but as system work.
What stands out is the care in execution: the depth of detail, the clear design language, the conscious combination of design and information. Here, a mindset often shaped by women within the team becomes visible, thinking in networks, making connections visible, taking details seriously and preparing content in a way that can not only be understood, but followed.
Curated spaces instead of mere exhibition
The fair also demonstrates this approach spatially through its numerous special areas. They are designed with noticeable attention to detail, thoroughly researched and visually precise. Materials are not merely presented, but staged with design precision, conceptual depth and a clear aesthetic line. Concept, design and execution reflect a mindset within the team that is strongly influenced by women: accuracy in research, sensitivity to proportion and impact, and the ambition to treat information and aesthetics as equally important. Each space is designed to provide orientation while simultaneously offering inspiration.
For example, in the Sustainability Lounge, curated by Anna Rodewald, materials are contextualized within circular economy and regulatory developments. PERFORMANCE COLORS by Nora Kühner understands color not only as an aesthetic tool, but also as a functional factor, for example in relation to visibility, safety and specific application areas.
A particular highlight is the collaboration with Future Fabrics Expo, which will take place in Brussels for the first time this year and is regarded as one of the leading international platforms for sustainable material innovation. It is organized by The Sustainable Angle, an expert team led by founder and CEO Nina Marenzi. The curatorial and strategic direction of the Expo therefore lies significantly in female hands, from material selection to contextual framing.
The Innovation Hub by Future Fabrics Expo demonstrates how research can be translated into industrial reality. It presents material developments that are already moving from laboratory stage into scalable processes, thoroughly researched, clearly contextualized and presented with high design standards.
Structure, clarity, context. Performance needs leadership
The more complex performance becomes, the more important orientation is. Information must be understandable. Connections must be visible. Astrid Schlüchter, Head of Communications at PERFORMANCE DAYS, states: “Technical performance values alone are no longer sufficient. Performance must be explained in context, transparently and comprehensibly.” It is not only about presenting innovation, but about contextualizing it. Internally, this attitude is also visible. Alexandra Denker, joining the team in March as Senior Project Manager: “I see different perspectives not as a problem, but as an important foundation for good decisions.” Different requirements, technology, sustainability, design or regulation, are not positioned against each other, but brought together.
From the visitor’s perspective, Viktoria Strehle, Head of Visitor Management PERFORMANCE DAYS, explains: “Our visitors no longer come simply to view fabrics. They expect efficiency, relevance and concrete solutions along the entire value chain.” The fair responds with clear structure, well-curated special areas and thematic guidance that creates orientation. Here, a signature strongly shaped by women within the team becomes visible: preparing content carefully, taking details seriously and presenting complex topics in a way that makes them understandable and tangible.
System work is care
The current Focus Topic reflects this mindset as well. Textile-to-Textile is not viewed in isolation as a recycling technology, but as a system issue. Collection, sorting and infrastructure, often invisible foundations, are brought to the forefront. Circularity is not approached technically, but structurally.
And perhaps this is the true female perspective on performance: not defining achievement in isolation, but in context. Not only optimizing, but integrating responsibility. Not only measuring, but contextualizing.
Performance today is far more than before. It is no longer visible solely in the product, but in the interaction of material, design, infrastructure and responsibility. It becomes convincing only when all levels interlock and it is precisely this interaction that PERFORMANCE DAYS makes visible.
SEE YOU @ PERFORMANCE DAYS
SAVE THE DATE
PERFORMANCE DAYS
March 18–19, 2026
Messe Munich, Hall C1 & C2
No comments yet