Ready to source fabric and network with industry peers, buyers flooded into Texworld USA Winter 2018 edition in record numbers. Held Jan. 22-24 at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York City and organized by Messe Frankfurt, the sourcing event for apparel fabric buyers, research and product development specialists, designers, merchandisers and overseas sourcing professionals takes place biannually in the Big Apple in January and July.

Collocated Apparel Sourcing USA, Texworld USA hosted 4,500 attendees, 371 exhibitors and covered 47,000 net square feet.

In its 12^th year, the Winter edition is the smaller of the two Texworld shows, although both events are experiencing attendance growth.

Buyers visiting Texworld USA were met with an expanded exhibit hall and several new showfloor elements, including content features for startups and small designers.

“We partnered with Startup Fashion to provide more information for startups,” said Jennifer Bacon, show director, fashion and apparel. “I truly believe today’s independent designers will be tomorrow’s big brands.”

She added, “We added a low minimum supplier list to the floor that features exhibitors who will sell at lower quantities and Resource Row that goes beyond textile sourcing to support other areas of the business.”

The retail climate has been changing quickly and dramatically over the past 12-18 months, Bacon explained.

“While how we shop is changing, we are still buying apparel and some companies are really thriving, particularly those with ethical, technical or sustainable features,” Bacon said.

Content on the show floor featured a wearables section and even covered trends in recycling leftover scraps and surplus fabrics.

Texworld USA also made enhancements to its educational offerings by adding a new element to its seminar series: Explore the Floor. During these sessions, a seminar presenter guided the group to areas on the showfloor where buyers could see and experience the topic firsthand, ask questions and learn how to apply the concept.

This year, the show’s art directors created a spotlight trend area on denim and artist Moon Heemin, who designed a fun art installation of dogs made out of denim that proved to be a powerful backdrop for social media sharing.

According to show officials, Texworld USA is anchored in New York City for several reasons, including the city’s status as one of the world’s four fashion capitals and a convenient destination for attendees to reach. In addition, the show itself has a reputation as a benchmark for colors and materials.

Bacon noted that the industry is becoming much more seasonless and that means buyers are buying in different ways than they were 10 years ago, including holding less inventory.

“Whether buyers need smaller runs, specialized inventory or recycling help, Texworld USA will continue evolving and growing to serve the needs and deliver a quality product to our diverse attendee base, which includes luxury brands all the way through to accessible lines,” Bacon said.

Texworld USA will return to the Javits Center July 23-25.