The first Winter Edition of the Functional Fabric Fair powered by PERFORMANCE DAYS was co-located with the PGA Show in Orlando, FL. The show brought together more than 90 vetted exhibitors showcasing functional fabrics, trims and components for golf, racket sports and other outdoor and activewear applications.

The debut for the Fair was strategically timed to align with the PGA Show, the world’s largest global business gathering for golf. The Fair attracted 1,100+ attendees from leading performance and athletic brands.  Product developers and designers were provided the opportunity to see innovative, ethically-conscious textiles with a focus on comfort, stretch, moisture management, and advanced technical performance.  

The textile education programming provided a platform for driving interest in the performance apparel market. Expert Talks and Trend Forum presentations placed a spotlight on textile innovation, performance, and developments in advanced sustainability for shaping a more ethical textile industry for sourcing high-performance fabrics. Steve McCullough, Event Vice President of Functional Fabric Fair, stated, “launching the Spring Edition of Functional Fabrics Orlando with the PGA Show allows us to meet performance apparel manufacturers exactly where textile innovation and sourcing decisions are being made.”

There was an emphasis on sustainability at the show and the need for collaboration across the textile industry to drive progress in circularity, transparency, and innovation. The show’s “Textile-to-Textile” theme explored how recycling can be accomplished through infrastructure, and how the brands, mills, and policies can close the loop, by working together to create a positive industry-wide circular system.

A seminar entitled “Cooling Technology Innovation & Scalable Fabric Solutions for the Next Generation of Performance Apparel,” provided an inside look at the entire innovation chain, and discussed the need to bring recycled products back into the marketplace with the same spirited performance as the original fabric. The program offered information regarding “Advanced Cooling Yarn Technologies” and the “Best-in-Class Fabric Engineering,” recognizing what is scientifically possible, commercially scalable, and consumer-proven for 2026-2028 product cycles.

Another seminar, “Natural Performance:  Designing Breathable, Comfortable Fabrics without Synthetics,” addressed the fact that over the past several years, the performance apparel industry has relied on synthetic fibers to deliver stretch, moisture management, and durability. But, as the market shifts towards circularity and reduced dependency on fossil-based inputs, designers and developers are discovering that natural fibers can achieve similar functionality through construction, not chemistry.

The emerging field of natural performance involves engineered fabrics for breathability, comfort, and performance through advancements in yarn architecture, air-channel formation, and mechanical stretch design. Natural fibers like cotton, hemp, and lyocell are being reimagined to perform in categories once dominated by polyester, nylon, and spandex. These materials are ideal for activewear and summer apparel.  

As an example, Jason Thompson, VP of Brand Development for Supima, mentioned innovative cooling fabric technologies include TurboDry, which utilizes construction-based, biomimicry to move moisture in one direction, away from the skin, keeping active users. Hyosung CREORA’s Coolwave nylon is another high-performance functional yarn, engineered for instant cooling, rapid moisture absorption, and quick-drying, and offering up to 1.5 times faster moisture transport than conventional nylon. CREORA Coolwave’s moisture absorption provides a high cooling effect that delivers long-lasting cooling approximately 1.5 times faster moisture absorption compared to conventional nylon.  

McCullough said the response to the first Winter Edition exceeded expectations, adding, “the level of engagement on the show floor confirmed there is strong demand for a focused sourcing event dedicated to performance and sustainability, especially within the golf and activewear markets. We look forward to continuing the Winter Edition in Orlando and building on our successful co-location with the PGA Show in the years ahead.”