The Preface fabrics trade show unveils a new format focused on circular fashion

Founded in 2018, the Preface fabric trend show will unveil a brand new format on January 28 and 29 in Los Angeles at 356 S. Mission Road in the Arts District, exploring the future of circular design, upcycling, and sustainability. 

The new edition will be produced in collaboration with Re/Assembly, an organisation co-founded by Sohyun Cho, Jodi Everding, Stina Randestad, and Ida Esteri Karkkainen and dedicated to supporting creative talent in the transition to circularity in the fashion and textile industries; and Here/After, a structure born from the collaboration between Amy Leverton, founder of Denim Dudes, and Erin Barajas, producer and writer specialising in denim.

“This season marks a new chapter for Preface as we take a fully collaborative approach for the first time,” says Betsy Franjola, founder of Preface. “By uniting with these innovative partners who add depth through education and trend programming, we’re shaping our largest and most inspiring event to date.”

“With the theme ‘Unraveling Circularity,’ the event will unite industry pioneers, educators, and suppliers to platform tools and insights on circular design for designers and brands interested in textiles and resources that offer a better alternative to conventional materials,” explain the event organisers. “Through a curated roster of exhibitors, interactive sessions, expert panels, and networking opportunities, attendees will gain practical resources to integrate circularity and upcycling into their design and production processes.”

Specifically, the Preface show floor will expand to include a dedicated collection of denim supply chain players organised by Denim Dudes, including Orta, Iskur, Lab Denim, Desert Studio, Denimai, and Maritas. Visitors will also be able to discover global denim insights and attend trend forecasts, industry reports, and panels on culture, creativity, and the evolution of the denim landscape.

“We’ve hosted some amazing, intimate, and elevated community experiences featuring our market insights alongside non-traditional programming and unexpected speakers,” says Leverton, co-founder of Here/After. “So I’m thrilled to spread our wings a bit and bring that same focus and energy to a wider audience.”

A highlight of this year’s event, Re/Assembly’s Upcycling Fashion Design Competition will offer a real-time show that aims to challenge traditional design practices. After an expert-led educational program, selected emerging designers will face a six-hour challenge on the show floor: transforming post-consumer clothing, textile waste and recycled materials into runway-ready garments live in front of attendees. 

The competition is targeting 3rd and 4th year and recently graduated fashion students. The jury will select the finalists based on their design language, craftsmanship, and design process in their previous work and commitment to sustainability in fashion design.

“Our Upcycling Design Competition is the ultimate proof of concept, demonstrating that circularity is not a restriction- it is the catalyst for the most creative, original, and interesting design in fashion today,” says Stina Randestad, award-winning fashion designer and creative director of Re/Assembly.

The winning team designers will each be awarded a Juki sewing machine and a 750 euro gift card from European premium recycled fabric manufacturer Weturn. Additional prizes may be announced by the organiser at a later date.

The trade show is expecting to bring together brands such as AG Jeans, Frame, Reformation, Good American, Paige, True Religion, Staud, Buck Mason, Rails, Doen, and L’Agence, alongside emerging designers, sourcing team, and sustainability leaders.  

The trade show will welcome visitors from all levels of the fashion supply chain, from founders and creative directors to production and sourcing managers. Attendance at Preface is free of charge and brands and designers are invited to register online.