[pageLogInLogOut]

#Textiles & Apparel / Garment

Connecting the ASEAN textile sector: sustainability, trends, and technology take centre stage at this week’s VIATT 2026

Fashion is a big topic at VIATT © 2026 Messe Frankfurt
Opening this week Thursday, the Vietnam International Trade Fair for Apparel, Textiles, and Textile Technologies (VIATT) is set to welcome visitors from ASEAN’s dynamic textile market and beyond. From 26 to 28 February, VIATT 2026 – the fair’s third editions – will reinforce its strategic proposition with an integrated showcase of the three core sectors of the entire textile value chain. Beyond new sourcing opportunities in Apparel Fabrics & Fashion, Home & Contract Textiles, and Technical Textiles & Technologies, the fair will present an expanded fringe programme.

Highlights include the inaugural Trend Forum, alongside an industry summit, local and international fashion shows, interactive workshops, and expert seminars. 

“As VIATT continues to grow and attract broader international participation, at this edition we are pleased to introduce the inaugural German Pavilion and Türkiye Zone, the Textile Chemicals and Dyes Zone, as well as the Trend Forum, a unified vision exploring all three sub-sectors,” said Ms Wilmet Shea, General Manager of Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd. “These additions highlight our commitment to enhancing the fair from multiple perspectives, as we explore new opportunities in diverse yet overlapping textile sectors, while reinforcing VIATT’s dedication to design, sustainability, innovation, and international collaboration – key elements that distinguish this platform as one of ASEAN’s premier industry hubs.”

Covering 18,000 sqm in Halls A and B, VIATT 2026 will host nearly 460 exhibitors from 21 countries and regions. The fair will feature an impressive lineup of international participants, including the returning pavilions from China, India, Taiwan, and the debut of the German Pavilion. The show floor will also include the European Zone, Japan Zone, Vietnam Zone, and the new Türkiye Zone. Econogy Hub will also return, alongside the Garment Display Zone and the Trend Forum, showcasing integrated LIFESTYLE TRENDS across the apparel, home, and technical sectors – a first for a textile trade fair.

In anticipation, visitors from across Asia-Pacific and beyond are preparing to source in Ho Chi Minh City. These include nine buyer delegations from six countries / regions, including Australia, India, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. To enhance the sourcing experience, the fair’s Global Exhibitor Search feature will enable buyers to connect efficiently with potential suppliers.

Highlighted exhibitors include:

Apparel fabrics, yarns & fibres, and garments

  • Albini 1876 – Thomas Mason (Italy; booth number: A-E22): as part of the Albini Group, Europe’s largest shirting fabric producer, Thomas Mason combines tradition and innovation, offering durable, wrinkle-resistant fabrics.
  • Chain Yarn Vietnam (booth number: B-G23): offers unique GREENLON® eco-friendly knitted fabrics with cooling and UV-resistant properties, utilising sustainable fibres – including transforming discarded fishing nets into clothing, footwear, and backpacks.
  • Shibaya (Japan; booth number: A-E07): known for authentic Japanese fabrics, Shibaya crafts premium textiles using materials ranging from natural fibres to high-performance nylon and polyester. Its 100% linen dobby weave fabric offers elegance and a refined texture, ensuring breathability, softness, and durability for everyday wear.

Home & contract textiles

  • Association Home from Portugal (booth number: A-G18): returning to VIATT, the association will showcase over 50 brands, highlighting Portugal’s textile craftsmanship with luxurious sheets and intricate quilts that emphasise quality, innovation, and sustainability through a blend of traditional techniques and modern technology.
  • Nandan Terry (India; booth number: A-J04): a vertically integrated terry towel manufacturer with in-house capabilities for spinning, weaving, dyeing, processing, cutting, stitching, and packing, producing 25 million towels annually. It offers pure cotton towels in various GSM and sizes for global retail and import markets, with certifications from leading industry organisations.
  • Paradies (Germany; booth number: A-E31): manufacturing premium bedding since 1854, Paradies delivers high-quality products for restorative sleep. The company serves customers in 50 countries, providing “Made in Germany”, sustainably processed quality. Catering to hotels, cruise ships, and airlines, the company offers exceptional comfort for guests and durable, easy‑care products.

Technical textiles, nonwovens, and textile technologies

  • AVA CAD CAM Group (UK; booth number: A-E28): specialising in training, support, consultancy, and software for the textile industry, AVA enhances creativity in design and manufacturing with its decorative print design software for fashion, home furnishings, and various surfaces.
  • ZLINK Technologies (Hangzhou) (China; booth number: A-G13): a high-tech specialist in the design and manufacturing of equipment for converting and packaging wet wipes. The company offers complete automated production solutions for baby, disinfectant, and flushable wipes.

Fringe programme to reinforce connections across the textile spectrum

The fair’s range of fringe events include the inaugural VIATT Trend Forum, Vietnam Textile & Garment Industry Development Strategy Summit (VGTIS), and Textile Industry Exchange. Other featured events include various seminars and workshops designed to provide valuable insights into industry trends and innovations: 

  • Sustainable by Design: The Green Thread (Design & Trends): in this session, the Asia International Hemp Association, Bio-Smart Group, and TOUCHABLE will focus on the transformation of hemp fibre into a premium, eco-friendly material for fashion and home textiles. It addresses technological advancements and sustainability benefits that have facilitated hemp to enter high-value markets, emphasising its role in promoting circular design and reducing environmental impact.
  • Fashioning a Circular Textile Economy Through Industry Collaboration (Econogy Talks): panellists from Covation Biomaterials, the Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA), RMIT University Vietnam, the UK Fashion and Textile Association (UKFT), and XAVAN will focus on circularity and the importance of solutions such as sustainable manufacturing, circular business models, recycling infrastructure, novel technologies, and more.
  • Vietnam Sourcing Forum: Insights for Suppliers and Buyers (Market Information & Business Strategies): in collaboration with MoveToAsia, this panel discussion provides expert insights for exhibitors and buyers relating to sourcing in Vietnam. It addresses key considerations for overseas stakeholders, including common misconceptions, pain points, and pitfalls faced by first-time buyers, and explores manufacturing operations, sales channels, and Vietnam’s role as a garment manufacturing hub.
  • Redefining AI’s Role in Automated Textile Material Inspection (Technology & Solutions): in this seminar, AiDLab examines how AI is transforming material inspection within the textile industry. Traditional methods often rely on human checks, leading to inefficiencies. The discussion will focus on the advantages of AI, including enhanced accuracy and real-time inspection in fast-paced production environments. Challenges in adopting AI will also be addressed, along with essential considerations for companies preparing for implementation.

In addition, VIATT 2026 will feature three captivating fashion shows that blend local and international trends: the Local Booming Designer – Phan Dang Hoang will present a collection that fuses Vietnam’s rich cultural heritage with modern aesthetics. The Sustainable, Zero-Waste Fashion Show – KHAAR features a luxury brand that combines heritage craftsmanship with innovation, using circular materials and digital design for sustainable fashion. The third show, the Essence of French Fashion, will feature esteemed brands Royal Mer, a heritage knitwear house known for its timeless sea-inspired garments designed for durability across generations, and Fantaisie Militaire, which draws from military styles to emphasise functionality, timelessness, and the value of ‘Made in France’. Fairgoers can also look forward to the Upcycled Jewellery Workshop, a hands-on experience for participants to transform discarded textiles into unique, handcrafted accessories.

The Vietnam International Trade Fair for Apparel, Textiles and Textile Technologies (VIATT) is organised by Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd and the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency (VIETRADE). For more details on this fair, please visit www.viatt.com.vn or contact viatt@hongkong.messefrankfurt.com.

VIATT 2026 will be held from 26 – 28 February 2026.



More News from Messe Frankfurt GmbH

#Textiles & Apparel / Garment

Autopsy, the new trend book by Texworld Apparel Sourcing Paris, deciphers the fractures of our time through 12 creative signals

Presented during Texworld Apparel Sourcing Paris, from August 31 to September 2, 2026, at the Paris-Le Bourget Exhibition Center, Autopsy offers a reinterpretation of the contours of fashion in a world undergoing profound transformation, balancing radical introspection and sensitive renewal.

#Textiles & Apparel / Garment

New sourcing regions and sustainable solutions shape Texworld Paris 2026

From August 31 to September 2, 2026, Texworld Apparel Sourcing Paris will once again bring together all international players in textiles and apparel at the Paris-Le Bourget Exhibition Center.

#Textiles & Apparel / Garment

Messe Frankfurt commits further to East Africa: three textiles trade fairs during Africa Sourcing and Fashion Week from 2027

Messe Frankfurt and its Texpertise Network continue their steady, successful trajectory in the region. As Africa Sourcing and Fashion Week (ASFW) opened today, Member of the Executive Board Detlef Braun announced that Messe Frankfurt is licencing its three leading international trade fair brands Texworld, Apparel Sourcing and Texprocess to Nairobi, Kenya for the first time in 2027. From now on, they will take place annually as part of the Africa Sourcing and Fashion Week (ASFW) Nairobi.

#Techtextil 2026

Speed and connectivity: Techtextil and Texprocess provided market-ready solutions for industries under pressure

With more than 36,000 visitors and 1,700 exhibitors from a total of 112 countries, Techtextil and Texprocess 2026 demonstrated how innovation comes into industrial use. The convergence of research, industry and application proved to be a breeding ground for new material solutions, manufacturing and processing technologies. Natural fibres, performance apparel, connected systems and AI-driven processing technologies emerged as key growth and future markets.

More News on Textiles & Apparel / Garment

#Textiles & Apparel / Garment

Catalyst Club launches in Florence: Where conversations become catalysts for change

The first chapter of Catalyst Club debuted in Florence, bringing together creative directors, entrepreneurs, manufacturers, journalists and innovators from across the fashion and textile industry for an evening of dialogue, exchange and connection.

#Associations

Mario Jorge Machado re-elected President of EURATEX

The EURATEX General Assembly has re-elected Mario Jorge Machado as President of EURATEX, renewing its confidence in his leadership at a crucial moment for the European textile and clothing industry. The sector is facing rising costs, global competitive pressure and an increasingly challenging transition towards sustainability and digitalisation.

#Yarn & Fiber

Next week’s focus: Intertextile Shenzhen & Yarn Expo Shenzhen fuse textile tradition with sustainable, digital trends

Fashion will not be left behind in one of the world’s undisputed tech and manufacturing capitals. Which is why next week, at Intertextile Shenzhen Apparel Fabrics and Yarn Expo Shenzhen 2026, the organisers have made special efforts to integrate textile topics such as materials innovation, holistic sustainability, digitalisation and AI. Yet, from 9 – 11 June at the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center, the platform also includes timeless tradition and heritage-inspired evolution in equal measure. Across both shows, over 600 exhibitors from 11 countries and regions are set to showcase everything from Peruvian alpaca wool fabrics to tea-derived fibres, while their fringe programmes will explore diverse solutions along the entire value chain.

#Textiles & Apparel / Garment

Global size study for brands and retailers to optimize fit and market coverage

Hohenstein Apparel Fit Solutions, a global leader in apparel fit, sizing, and product development, today announces the launch of its Global Size Study, a new initiative designed to equip brands to better understand and serve their target consumers through more accurate, market-relevant sizing.

Latest News

#Dyeing, Drying, Finishing

Ferraro S.p.A. acquires the “Finishing” business unit of Cibitex S.r.l.

Ferraro S.p.A. and Cibitex S.r.l. are pleased to announce the completion of the agreement pursuant to which Ferraro S.p.A. has acquired the “Finishing” business unit of Cibitex S.r.l., specialized in the development and manufacturing of technological solutions for textile finishing.

#Recycling / Circular Economy

Reju opens its first R&D Center in the U.S. in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania

Reju, the company specializing in textile regeneration, today announced the opening of a Research and Development (R&D) Center in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, the company's first proprietary research center in North America. Located within Technip Energies' existing Advanced Materials and Catalysts research center, the lab will allow Reju to accelerate the rollout of its recycling technologies and develop its next-generation circular solutions.

#Weaving

Itema reaffirms its commitment to the Syrian textile industry at NasTex 2026

From July 18th to 21st, Itema will exhibit at NasTex at the Damascus Fairground (Hall 11 – Stand C02), marking its return to one of the Middle East’s historically significant textile markets. Itema will showcase advanced weaving technology designed to support the competitiveness and technological evolution of Syrian manufacturers and announces a new partnership with Growfast Agency as the sole agent of Itema in Syria.

#Knitting & Hosiery

KARL MAYER's HKS 2-SE Expands Possibilities for Premium Stretch WARP KNITS

Warp knitted fabrics with a woven look are more in demand than ever in the fashion and apparel industries. Stretch WARP KNITS, in particular, impress with their freedom of movement, breathability, and virtually wrinkle-free wear – thereby opening up new style worlds such as smart casual or business casual. When it comes to the highly efficient production of premium-quality stretch WARP KNITS, the HKS 2-SE has long been the machine of choice. KARL MAYER’s best-selling tricot machine produces standard elastic fabrics characterized by high gauges, smooth, delicate surfaces, and a soft hand feel.

TOP