Trade shows are a great place to learn about the latest industry trends, innovations, networking, and to showcase your products. These events offer a platform for face-to-face interactions, allowing you to connect with potential clients, suppliers, and industry leaders. In today’s digital age, such personal connections have become invaluable for building trust and fostering long-lasting relationships. 

But with countless trade shows happening worldwide, how do you know which ones are worth your time and investment? Learn more about the different kinds of trade shows, where they are, and how to make the most of them when you go so you can make informed decisions for your business.

Different Types Of Trade Shows

Fabric trade shows are more than just a marketplace for materials; they’re a way to gain access to a diverse range of fabrics, sewing supplies, and industry leaders, all in one place. Sourcing and buying trade shows allow you to browse new products and new suppliers, from all over the globe… under a single roof.

By attending trade shows that fit your business needs, you get exposure, learn about upcoming trends, anticipate market trends, and find unique materials. Beyond these advantages, trade shows are great for building relationships with suppliers that can lead to better pricing and exclusive access to limited-edition textiles. (is this accurate?)

The information you learn from seminars, workshops, and speakers can inspire new ideas or refine your current collections. If you’re serious about the fashion business, attending trade shows should be a strategic part of their growth plan because the foresight is invaluable in maintaining a competitive edge in the industry.

Fashion Trade Shows To Attend

MAGIC 

MAGIC is located in Las Vegas, and is one of the most renowned fashion trade shows, attracting buyers and designers from all over the world. With a focus on apparel, footwear, and accessories, MAGIC is a trade show that is a must attend for anyone in the fashion industry.

Texworld

Texworld NYC is one of the largest sourcing events on the East Coast and will be in Los Angeles in 2025. Find a wide variety of fabrics from suppliers worldwide including casual cotton, functional fabrics, knits, and laces in unique colors and structures.

Première Vision

Join fashion industry experts at Première Vision Paris for sourcing raw materials for apparel, bags, shoes, and jewelry. This event combines business opportunities with trendsetting ideas, offering everything from yarns and fabrics to accessories and manufacturing services under one roof.

Impressions Expo Fort Worth

See the latest trends and techniques in apparel decoration at Impressions Expo Fort Worth. Join industry professionals for an event showcasing screen printing, embroidery, and more. 

International Textile Fair

At the International Textile Fair in Dubai, there will be three days of amazing exhibits, collections, and networking opportunities. Connect with top experts in the fashion industry at this event.

Apparel Textile Sourcing

The Apparel Textile Sourcing event is the largest apparel & textile trade show in Canada. This international trade show brings together buyers and sourcing experts to meet and network with suppliers from all over the world.

Source Fashion

The Source Fashion trade show brings together top manufacturers and suppliers for three days at Olympia London. Meet key players in the UK fashion industry and explore curated exhibits that have been vetted to ensure they prioritize responsibility and transparency in their business practices.

PERFORMANCE DAYS

PERFORMANCE DAYS is the ultimate trade show for functional fabrics, hosted semi-annually in April/May and November in Munich. This event was launched in 2008 and caters to sports, workwear, and athleisure apparel where you can discover the latest trends and innovations in functional fabrics, membranes, yarns, and accessories like tapes, transfers, buttons, and zippers.

California Market Center

California Market Center (CMC) is located in the heart of downtown LA's Fashion District. The CMC is a hub for clothing wholesalers with showrooms, events, creative offices, and businesses in Downtown LA.

How To Make The Most Of Trade Shows When You’re There

Set Clear Goals

Before you get to the trade show, it’s important to outline what you hope to achieve. Are you looking to increase brand awareness, generate leads, network, launch a new product, or sourcing materials? Clear goals will guide your strategy for maximizing your time and getting the most out of your investment. Having measurable goals allows you to reflect post-show, helping you refine your strategy for future events.

Plan Ahead

Book those all important meetings before you go, even if you’re just talking to a company at their booth! If you can, set up a predetermined time, so neither of you gets caught up elsewhere. Same thing goes for networking, if you’re hoping to bump into someone to say hello, set up a time to meet for a coffee before you go.

Capturing Leads Efficiently

Collecting business cards or contact information at trade shows can be a hassle especially if you have nowhere to put business cards, or if you didn’t bring business cards. You need to have a way to collect contact information. A great way to do this is by using QR codes where people can access your website and content information. Mobile apps like SignUpAnywhere, Jotform, or iCapture are other ways to seamlessly get contact information. We also recommend using a CRM (customer relationship management) tool, to store contact info and keep relevant, notes, files and history together. 

Maximize Networking Opportunities

Trade shows are a great way to build relationships with other industry professionals. Networking can lead to collaborations and partnerships. See what exhibitors are going to be attending, and make sure to meet the ones you’d like to connect with. Pro tip, taking a selfie with a new contact is also a great way to remember faces too. 

More Bang for your Buck

If you want to capitalize, why not use this event for content creation? We all need to be on the content machine to promote our business, so why not take this opportunity to take as many photos, videos and notes as you can – so you have some additional assets you can use for your business. 

Post Trade Show Follow-up

Now that you’ve met connections and developed relationships, don’t forget to follow-up after the trade show. Set aside time to craft personalized emails and actionable ways to continue to grow the relationship and connect again. Connect with your new friends on social media, and set yourself future reminders to get in touch with them again… so you don’t fall into the trap of meeting them once and never talking again.

The true value of a trade show extends beyond the event itself. By nurturing leads, and connections, you’ll position your brand for long-term success in a competitive landscape. The travel cost and time investment won’t necessarily show an immediate ROI. But by using the show as a jumping off point for other relationship building activities, you’ll be sure to win in the long run.

If you have any questions about setting up your supply chain, book a free strategy call so we can recommend personalized next steps.