NEW YORK — The first U.S. trade show dedicated exclusively to sustainable apparel products and practices will get an encore.
The Continuum Show, held in conjunction with the denim-centric Kingpins market at Center548 here, again will be held in tandem with Kingpins, and at the same location, on July 24 and 25.
The show is co-produced by Anne Gillespie and Stuart Adams of Continuum Textiles and Kingpins, which was founded by Andrew Olah, chief executive officer of Olah Inc., a multinational textile concern. Textile Exchange, of which Gillespie serves as director of industry integrity, is also a partner in the venture, which seeks to provide a venue for companies along various points of the apparel supply chain that are focused on the conservation of energy and water, recycling, the reduction of waste and toxins, environmentally friendly farming, the health and safety of workers and their communities and certification of environmental performance standards. The inaugural edition had just a dozen exhibitors, ranging from Jeanologia, a Spanish firm that manufactures finishing equipment, to firms providing safe chemicals and enzymes for the finishing of denim and other apparel fabrics.
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“We’re after quality, not quantity,” Gillespie told WWD. “The show did what it was designed to do — it was about companies getting together and making the connections necessary to advance sustainable growth. And we understood from the start that, ultimately, this trade show had to make business happen. There was an element of economic sustainability to it as well.”
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Because there was one registration process for guests, whether they were there to attend Kingpins, Continuum or both, Gillespie was unable to give a complete list of those who visited Continuum. Production, design and corporate social responsibility executives from companies including PPR, Kohl’s Corp., Target Corp., Sears Canada and Quiksilver Inc. were seen on the show floor.
“We like what this show is about, and we think it’s got a tremendous advantage because of the tie-in with Kingpins,” said one exhibitor, who requested anonymity. “Traffic was good on the first day and a bit slower on the second, but we like the idea and we believe it can grow from a strong start.”