Best of Focus Topic

Fabric Certifications: What Really Matters?

The textile industry is awash with certifications aimed at identifying environmentally conscious fabrics and accessories. These certifications are vital tools for ensuring the origin, specifications, quality levels, and compliance of products with production, social, and environmental standards. Yet, understanding what each certification represents and which ones are relevant for a specific business can be daunting.

This is where the Focus Topic “Certifications: Which Ones Matter?” comes in. The spring fair, held on March 5-6, 2025, at Messe München, highlighted an impressive selection of sustainable textiles and innovative material solutions. This category features fabrics certified by standards such as bluesign, Oeko-Tex Step or Standard 100, Cradle to Cradle, and RWS Wool (Responsible Wool Standard). Among them, the largest group of materials is certified with the GRS (Global Recycled Standard). However, the analysis also reveals some challenges: only two fabrics in this category meet the criteria for circularity, which ensures that products can be fully recycled at the end of their lifecycle. On the positive side, textile waste is notably low, yet the recycling process remains complex. This complexity is partly due to market demand—most retailers prioritize GRS certification, which pushes Cradle to Cradle and similar approaches into the background. PERFORMANCE DAYS aims to address these challenges by showcasing sustainable innovations and raising awareness of the need for streamlined recycling processes and a broader perspective on holistic sustainability concepts like Cradle to Cradle. The ultimate goal is to actively support the textile industry on its journey toward a circular and sustainable future.

PERFORMANCE DAYS tackles the certification jungle

The PERFORMANCE DAYS expert team, in collaboration with Anna Schuster, Head of Sustainability at PERFORMANCE DAYS, has developed a comprehensive guide. This guide addresses mandatory and optional sustainability standards for products and is based on thorough research and analysis of practices among retailers, department stores, and wholesalers. It provides clear information on requirements, submission processes, and the presentation of qualified data for exhibitors and visitors alike.

You want to learn more about spring fairs Focus Topic - here is the complete guide to this year's Focus Topic "Certifications – Which Ones Matter?"

Focus Topic for October show: Textile to Textile – the role of recyclers

As we prepare for the upcoming PERFORMANCE DAYS show, which will take place at Messe Munich from 29-30 October 2025, we would like to highlight our ongoing commitment to sustainability. Textile-to-Textile (T2T) recycling is increasingly recognized as a vital solution for the circular economy.

This focus examines the current state of T2T recycling, including material flows, technological capabilities, challenges, and opportunities.

Criteria for submitted fabrics:

• At least 50% T2T recycled content
• Indication of yarn supplier and origin of the T2T recycled material
• Product-level sustainability certification, if possible

Your contributions help us shape PERFORMANCE DAYS as a platform for circular solutions. Stay tuned, detailed information to the new Focus Topic will follow…

Lost in certifications? Listen to The Focus Topic Panel!

Get the inside scoop at PERFORMANCE DAYS! An incisive keynote from Charles Ross kicks off the debate, challenging perspectives on certification. Then a powerful panel with three top experts – René Bethmann, Vaude, Julie Gretton, W.L. Gore and Stewart Sheppard from S2 Consulting dives deep into what really matters.

Find a better way through the certifications-jungle here!