What a difference a year makes! After visiting the chaotic Who’s Next along with several other shows, including Curve Paris and Interfilière, in a multi-level exhibition hall last September, this year’s September edition took place back in Hall 1 at Parc de Versailles.
It was a tremendous success, radiating positivity. The atmosphere was buzzing with visitors exploring food trucks and lounging in striped deck chairs outside the hall. The sun was shining brightly, making the tagline for this season, “Where Summer Never Ends,” feel especially relevant.
The positive vibe, combined with a Saturday start, created an addictive, feel-good atmosphere—refreshingly welcomed in these challenging times. At Who’s Next, the beauty and home sectors stood out, with visitors even trying out LED face masks on-site. The event featured a delightful mix of playfulness and purpose.
At Curve Paris, the beach and resort wear for Summer 2026 showcased renewed confidence through bold colors, with kaftans emerging as a staple for the upcoming season. Kudos to the event organisers, WSN, for such a fantastic show! Everyone was smiling, and there was an energetic frequency enveloping both exhibitors and visitors alike.
My initial destination was Interfilière, where the new Creative Hub perfectly exemplified what visitors needed. It featured a spacious Material Library highlighting organic and microfibre-based fabrics into categories rather than specific trends, providing an educational experience in understanding the differences between natural, synthetic, and recycled materials, as well as the certifications available.
Trend tables were present but scaled down, yet they still made a significant impact. Highlights included stretch lace, sculpting microfibres, performance fabrics, and inclusive sizing solutions through engineered knits. The Creative Hub also showcased innovative apparel techniques, focusing on motif placement, embroidery, printing, clocking, and appliqué. Technical and formal innovations blended seamlessly, creating diverse textiles and materials.
Not to be overlooked was the circular knitting machine in action within the Technical Focus sector, in partnership with Bugis. This technical connection, combined with surrounding trends and the Material Library, offered a seamless sourcing experience, linking the supply chain from fibre to apparel.
One company that deserves special mention is Feat Coop, which provides access to French manufacturers’ dead stock. Highlighting the environmental impact, purchasing 100 meters of dead stock equates to 552 to 1,062 kg of CO2 emissions avoided. This is a perfect solution, especially for small brands that struggle with the minimum order quantities (MOQ) many fabric suppliers have.
As the saying goes, “nothing changes, if nothing changes”, and this season’s event has proved that change is good, very good indeed. I will be back!
Correspondent: LOUISA SMITH
