Smart Textiles, wearable electronics and e-fashion have proved major selling points at Avantex in Frankfurt.

20 companies have been selected to take part in the smartTextiles show at the trade fair, featuring products such as jackets with MP3 players, dirt repellent nanotextiles and solar cells.

Highlights include Germany-based men’s fashion brand Bäumler is presenting its Traveller 06P, six-pocket traveller suit offering eBlocker, which is crease resistant and provides natural stretch for flexibility; US snowboarding company Burton is showcasing its Audex collection, a multimedia range which combines technological elements with apparel items and backpacks and is available with Motorola bluetooth technology, iPod compatible funk technology or MP3 for both jackets and backpacks; European lifestyle brand Daniel Hechter is highlighting its nanosphere jackets collection which allows water and dirt to drip off the surface of textiles, mimicking the so-called lotus flower effect; and together with the Eleksen Group, subsidiary of men’s luxury apparel and leather wear brand The Ermenegildo Zegna, Zegna Sport, has created the bluetooth iJacket, which allows the wearer to control an iPod and make telephone calls simultaneously.

Other innovations include Lodenfrey’s mosquito repellent GPS jackets and protective trousers, special gesture gloves which allow hands-free IT data input from The Mobile Research Center, and Zimmermann’s Novonic yarns that can transfer heat, electritcity and data, or protect from radiation. O’Neill is showcasing jackets, backpacks and gloves from its h4 collection with features such as an integrated camera, MP3 control and hands-free mobile communication, whilst Outlast Technologies is presenting its temperature regulating technology. Schoeller Textil, smartfiber AG, TITV, warmX and Xybermind will also present smart textiles at the show.

In addition, the recently founded smartTextiles community will also be launched at the show. The community represents the communication interests of producers and developers from the fashion, sports, work wear and healthcare fields. It is a new forum for all members of the textile value chain, from textile yarn and fabric innovations to wearable electronics and e-fashion.