30th Edition of Colombiatex Textile and Clothing Conference Comes to Medellín from January 23-25

The 30th edition of the Colombiatex textile conference will take over Colombia’s second city for three days from January 23-25 in Plaza Mayor Medellín.

With the theme of “Open Your Eyes (Abre los Ojos),” organizer Inexmoda expects the 2018 event to draw more than 15,000 buyers and at least 550 exhibitors from Colombia and abroad to do business and celebrate the ongoing growth of the textile, clothing, and fashion industry in the Andean nation.

In regards to the theme, Clara Henríquez, director of commercial platforms at Inexmoda, said that the organization is trying to help inspire companies and designers to identify their strengths — then build upon them to “make extraordinary things that cultivate the future and a lasting business over time.”

Photo: One of the displays from Colombiatex in 2016. (Photo credit: Loren Moss)

The large gathering will include seven pavilions that combine to occupy some 10,400 square meters. This year’s exhibition will also feature Brazil as the official guest country, something that was made possible with the support of Texbrasil, ABIT, and Apex-Brazil. The commercial relationship in this sector between the two neighboring countries grew by 6%, year-over-year, to around $40 million USD, and the organizers hope that the inclusion of Brazil in this year’s outing will only further that development.

Among the festivities will be a full day, January 24, dedicated to love of jeans during “Denim Day.” There also will be a “Graphic Market” on display throughout the event that will showcase talented graphic designers as well as the “Tecno Espacio (Tech Space)” that will highlight the latest technological innovations in textiles and industry equipment.

“The industry faces challenges to increase the volume of its sales and that forces entrepreneurs to focus their efforts on increasing the substitution cycle of garments, either through marketing strategies in the economic segments or greater personalization,” said Carlos Eduardo Botero Hoyos, CEO of Inexmoda.

In addition to the mayor’s office of Medellín, Inexmoda counts ProColombia and UPB, among others, as partners for this year’s 30th anniversary edition of Colombiatex.