Jury impressed by innovative, sustainablefabrics: Two PERFORMANCE AWARDS for Winter Highlights 22/23

Due to the on-going Corona pandemic, PERFORMANCE DAYS will also take place in winter exclusively as a DIGITAL EDITION. On the scheduled dates of December 9 and 10, new advanced tools, along with older and trusted, will go online. On the website www.performancedays.com, industry insiders can inform themselves about current trends and also find out more about the winners of the two PERFORMANCE AWARDS,which will be displayed in digital form at this year’s PERFORMANCE FORUM.
The winter edition of PERFORMANCE DAYS yet again sees the suppliers impress with magnificent new, and especially sustainable product innovations, for the 2022/23 autumn/winter season. In order to inform the industry about all of the new products and services from the functional area as well as exciting accessories, the highlights among the fabrics will be presented by category at the Digital Edition. Furthermore, the fair will also provide an overview of sustainable materials, which the jury has selected especially for this purpose, in line with this year’s FOCUS TOPIC “Nothing to waste - Closing the loop”. Textile recycling management is considered part of the solution to the global waste problem, curbing the consumption of resources and reducing climate harmful greenhouse gases. But what exactly is recycling management and how can it succeed? And above all, how far have fibre manufacturers progressed in the development of mono-component fabrics that can ultimately be returned to the textile cycle? In focus: recycled materials such as: PET bottles in yarns, recycled materials or blends, garments that decompose in a cradle-to-cradle approach.  
A particular highlight of the PERFORMANCE DAYS is the presentation of the PERFORMANCE AWARDS. A maximum of two awards can be presented for the best fabrics or materials. Also for this special season, the jury has chosen the two winners for outstanding fabrics – in winter 2022/23, an ECO PERFORMANCE AWARD WINNER will be honoured alongside the PERFORMANCE AWARD WINNER. Marco Weichert, Head of the Fair, and member of the jury, has this to say: “It is astonishing how many innovative, sustainable solutions have been submitted this winter by reputable fibre manufacturers, and likewise for yet unknown newcomers. At the PERFORMANCE FORUM, the jury has once again been spoilt for choice, with more than 600 fabrics that had to be closely examined. It is pleasing to see how positively the focus on sustainable solutions is being accepted and how many manufacturers are also focusing on fabrics that can be returned to the textile cycle.”   
PERFORMANCE AWARD Merryson Corporation – T11430: Robust, sustainable and trend-setting Merryson Corporation sets new standards in the workwear sector with a blend of 6% cotton, 15% polyester and 79% recycled polyester. The recycled PET fibre content is even biodegradable. By means of a completely new technique, the company has succeeded in developing an innovative, placed jacquard with integrated 3D boxes. The completely new 3D weaving technology is innovative, trend-setting and, due to the robust, resistant properties of the weaving technique, ideally suited for the workwear sector. As required, this construction can be used in various colour variations optimally for the entire outdoor sector.  
ECO PERFORMANCE AWARD   OPTIMER – 470-21002: Sustainable climate management at its best In the production of the 100% organic cotton fibre (weight: 315 grams), OPTIMER focuses on the wearing comfort of cotton combined with the function of synthetic fibres. The OPTIMER ADAPT technology ensures enhanced, more balanced climate management due to the natural phase change material. Its unique and bio-based microencapsulated material – verified by ECOCERT - reacts to changes in body temperature to maintain balanced comfort. In warmer temperatures, OPTIMER ADAPT guarantees a cooling of the body temperature, and in colder climate, the material returns heat to the body. The fabric dries faster, has a soft, natural feel, is pilling-resistant and colourfast. This makes the material suitable for a wide range of applications, such as sportswear, leisure wear, workwear or sportive fashion.  
Both fabrics are shown and described in the menu item FORUM HIGHLIGHTS at https://www.performancedays.com/digital-fair/forum-highlights/performance-awards.html.