LA Textile Show Highlights: Eco-Fabrics and Novelty Textures Steal the Spotlight

LA Textile Show Highlights: Eco-Fabrics and Novelty Textures Steal the Spotlight
10/01/2024 Kirill
Pine Crest Fabrics Fall 2024 LA Textile Show

Pine Crest Fabrics had the pleasure of attending the LA Textile Show, which ran from September 25-27 at the California Market Center in Los Angeles. It was an event filled with inspiring discussions, exciting product showcases, and valuable industry insights. In this blog post, we are sharing the key insights we received from this event.

Pine Crest Fabrics Fall 2024 LA Textile Show

Industry Trends and Sustainability

One of the standout themes of the event was the growing interest in sustainable fabrics. It was encouraging to see many colleagues and industry professionals highlighting the importance of certifications like GRS (Global Recycled Standard) and OEKO-Tex. These certifications are becoming a baseline requirement for many companies as the starting point for fabric decisions and considerations.

Pine Crest Fabrics has offered eco-certified fabrics over the years, and our recycled fabric collection has continuously grown. You can check out our certified textiles here.

New Stock Items Shine

Pine Crest Fabrics Fall 2024 LA Textile Show

We had the opportunity to share some of our newest stock items with clients, and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. FlexSoft, StarGlow, and FishTale were among the products that impressed the visitors most.

  • FlexSoft: This nylon/spandex interlock features a soft, single-side peached hand, giving it a second-skin feel. FlexSoft continues to grow in popularity among activewear brands for its top quality and great pricing. Currently, we offer 11 in-stock colors and customization options. View the collection.
  • StarGlow: A Pine Crest Fabrics exclusive, StarGlow is crafted with a double-layer foil print that offers a subtle sheen. It glows when hit with a spotlight, making it ideal for costumes and nightlife apparel. Customers have reported exceptional sales in bright neon colors and darker jewel tones. View the collection.
  • FishTale: Our first fully recycled product, FishTale is made with recycled nylon from ghost fishing nets and recycled spandex. Perfect for swimwear or light activewear, it is stocked in black and available in over 100 colors in a single roll. Many brands are testing and looking to adopt FishTale into their upcoming collections. View the fabric.

We noticed an upward trend in orders for new fabrics after a few seasons of more conservative buying. This shift gives us confidence that fashion purchases are increasing across various apparel divisions, signaling a positive momentum in the industry.

Surge in Novelty Textures and Next-Gen Fibers

There was significant interest in novelty textures for swimwear and activewear. This textile is being used to create flattering garments with dimensional interest. We saw considerable excitement around textured stretch wovens like gingham and seersucker. Designers plan to incorporate these textures to accent their solid items or bring a touch of trend-right novelty to their collections.

Various ribbed textures are also popular in solid colors, printed designs, or enhanced with luxury metallic yarn. Designers shared that these items are in demand and will sell well in future seasons.

Designers showed significant interest in natural and next-generation fibers like coffee and graphene, plus blends with wool, cotton, and modal, reflecting a desire for sustainable, innovative materials. Pine Crest Fabrics is extending its collections with these options. Learn more about our next-gen materials here.

However, we also recognize the limitations of natural fibers in high-performance activewear, while synthetic fibers like polyester and nylon offer exceptional durability, moisture-wicking, and stretch. Our goal is to integrate sustainable materials without compromising standards.

Generative AI Seminar

During the trade show, our Product Development Director, Jena Nesbitt, hosted a seminar on using generative AI to visualize fashion concepts. This topic received a lot of interest from the audience. We discussed AI’s evolution and growing adoption in the fashion industry, emphasizing the synergy between human creativity and AI as a design assistant.

Pine Crest Fabrics Fall 2024 LA Textile Show

For those who couldn’t attend, keep an eye out for our upcoming webinar on the same topic. We’re excited to continue exploring the possibilities that generative AI brings to fashion design and development.

Peclers Paris Trend Forum Highlights

The Peclers Paris Trend Forum was a hub of inspiration, showcasing new trends in color, print, and general textile themes. We observed lots of textures, metallics, and rich colors. It was a proud moment to see several of Pine Crest Fabrics’ items featured, including textured fabrics like lurex rib. We aim to align with designers’ interests and curate the best fabrics for upcoming fashion trends. Our Fahrenheit collection covers our newest trend-right items curated by specific apparel divisions. Thank you to everyone who visited our booth and participated in our seminar. We look forward to meeting you at other events.