Preview in Seoul 2024 Concludes Successfully with Record Participation and Attendance 

- K-Fashion Materials, Powered by Digital Innovation, Shine on the Global Fashion Stage! 

The Korea Federation of Textile Industries (KOFOTI), under the leadership of Chairman Byung-oh Choi, successfully hosted South Korea's largest textile and fashion exhibition, "Preview in Seoul 2024" (PIS), which concluded on August 23rd. This year's event was held on an unprecedented scale, with 576 companies from 13 countries occupying 888 booths. The exhibition attracted over 36,000 visitors both online and offline, marking a new record in terms of size and attendance.

PIS 2024 was themed "Beyond the Wave," symbolizing the industry's resolve to navigate and overcome the turbulent currents of global uncertainty and paradigm shifts. The exhibition was organized around four key themes: Sustainability, Splendid, Superior, and Smart, showcasing the latest innovations from participating companies.

This year’s event saw an impressive turnout of international buyers with decision-making authority, hailing from countries such as the United States, France, Italy, Germany, and Japan. Prominent domestic buyers, including Youngone Corporation, LF, Shinwon, and K2, also attended, contributing to a record number of business consultations.

Among the notable international buyers were renowned global brands such as Alexander Wang, Patagonia, Lululemon, Ralph Lauren, Club Monaco, and Bottega Veneta. 

- Patagonia and Ten Thousand, in particular, expressed keen interest in WooJoo Global's ultra-cooling nylon Creora fabric and Coolwave yarn-based materials for athleisure wear.

Japanese trading company Takisada Nagoya is expected to collaborate with domestic high-performance material companies like Neitex Co.,Ltd., YJ Global, and Onechang Material Co.,Ltd. to introduce these innovations to the global high-end brand market. Meanwhile, French outdoor brand K-Way plans to develop new products using recycled nylon Taslan materials in partnership with Kyungwon Co., Ltd.

Domestic buyers also engaged in in-depth consultations with participating companies, showing optimism for the upcoming season as the global market recovers. Youngone Outdoor discussed potential collaborations with Taijin Textile Co., Ltd. on sports shirts made from eco-friendly materials, while Descente Korea consulted with HeyOne Corporation on innovative powder-touch polyester fabrics.

Fashion Group Hyungji participated in PIS with its affiliated brands, including Crocodile Lady (womenswear), Hyungji Elite (student uniforms), and Castelbajac (golf wear). The group also filed a trademark for "Cool Korea Hyungji" and laid the groundwork for collaborative efforts with textile and sewing companies in Daegu and Busan.

The success of PIS 2024 is expected to lead to the development of promotional products through technological collaboration between leading domestic and international brands and participating material companies, significantly contributing to the sustainable development of the textile and fashion industry.

A special feature of this year’s event was the AI Fashion Tech Pavilion, which showcased cutting-edge technologies essential for the future of fashion, such as AI-based design, digital platforms, and eco-friendly smart clothing. Coversomeone received significant attention for its "Air Smart Fabric" and "Air Down," a versatile fabric that allows for various styles, from windbreakers to down jackets, by adjusting air injection.

CK&B demonstrated its "Hidden Tag" process, offering visitors a hands-on experience with its digital watermark-based solutions for product authentication and intellectual property protection. Particularly noteworthy was the "Avatar Street Show," a digital street show by Z- Emotion, which captivated visitors with its vivid portrayal of fabric emotions and characteristics through large LED displays.

The exhibition also featured a variety of side events, such as the K-Materials x K-Designers Collaboration Fashion Show and seminars, all designed to enhance the visitor experience. The fashion show, held three times during the event, featured collaborations between 52 material companies and renowned domestic designers like Sung-dong Lee, Joon-bok Lee, and Mi-jin Go. The show effectively promoted both the design and the materials, with information on fabric materials displayed via LED.

Fifteen seminars were held over the course of August 21st and 22nd, drawing significant interest, particularly those focused on digital transformation in the textile and fashion industry, including topics such as digital twins, data-driven trends, and AI fashion tech. The seminars attracted over 500 attendees from prominent companies such as Samsung Electronics, Sae-A, Shinsegae International, and F&F Co., Ltd.

To further its commitment to sustainability, the exhibition awarded "Eco-Certified Company" status to participating companies with eco-friendly certifications. It also replaced printed directories with digital kiosks and utilized recyclable exhibition booths and rest areas, earning praise as a leading global eco-friendly exhibition.

A representative from KOFOTI commented, “We hope that PIS 2024 has significantly contributed to the expansion of both export and domestic markets for Korean fashion material companies. Moving forward, we will continue to enhance our content to solidify our position as a leading global sourcing exhibition, driving both eco-friendly and digital transformations.”

The next edition, "PIS 2025," is scheduled to take place from August 20th to 22nd at COEX Halls A, B1, and The Platz Hall (2F).