ITMA 2027 Gains Strong Momentum As Start-Up Participation Surges
Emerging Innovators Find a Global Launchpad at ITMA 2027
ITMA 2027 is witnessing strong early momentum, with applications for its dedicated Start-Up Valley nearly doubling compared to the previous edition, underscoring growing global interest from textile and garment technology innovators.
Aligned with the exhibition’s theme, Co-creating the Future of Textiles, the Start-Up Valley continues to provide emerging companies with a platform to connect with industry leaders, investors, technology partners and potential customers.
“Start-ups are an essential part of co-creating the future of textiles,” said Alex Zucchi, President of CEMATEX. “By bringing together innovators and industry leaders, ITMA provides the environment and opportunities needed to accelerate innovation and help promising ideas evolve into viable business ventures.”
Following its successful debut at ITMA 2023, the Start-Up Valley has attracted increasing interest from entrepreneurial ventures worldwide, reinforcing ITMA’s position as the premier global marketplace for textile and garment manufacturing technologies.
As preparations for ITMA 2027 advance, organisers have announced that sector planning will enter its next phase after the stand application deadline of 8 July 2026. Companies submitting applications early will have a greater chance of securing exhibition space within their preferred product sectors.
Highlighting the importance of industry collaboration amid global uncertainties, Charles Beauduin, Chairman of ITMA Services, said: “In an era of rapid technological change, sustainability imperatives and increasing market volatility, no single organisation can shape the future alone. Industry leaders, innovators, researchers and manufacturers must come together to develop solutions that will drive the next chapter of sustainable textile manufacturing.”
Industry stakeholders continue to view ITMA as a critical platform for innovation and sustainability. Woolmark, a long-standing participant, noted that the exhibition enables collaboration across the textile value chain while showcasing advancements in Merino wool innovation and nature-positive solutions.
Visitor interest is also expected to remain strong as textile and apparel manufacturers seek new technologies, ideas and solutions to enhance competitiveness and sustainability.
According to Johannes Diebel, Managing Director of Forschungskuratorium Textil e.V., ITMA serves as a key catalyst for innovation, helping translate research and technological developments into practical industrial applications.
Scheduled to take place from 16–22 September 2027 at Messegelände Hannover, Germany, ITMA 2027 will spotlight innovation across the entire textile and garment manufacturing value chain. Key themes include advanced materials, automation and digitalisation, sustainability and circularity, and human-centric manufacturing.
The previous edition, held in Milan in 2023, featured 1,709 exhibitors from 47 countries and attracted more than 111,000 visitors from 143 countries, highlighting the exhibition’s global reach and influence.
With demand continuing to build across industry sectors, organisers are encouraging interested companies to submit their stand applications before the July deadline.
