They were once the beating heart of the textile world. A place where buyers came for inspiration, and manufacturers from every corner of the globe stepped into the spotlight to showcase their innovations.
But in 2025, even the most loyal trade show attendees will admit it: this format is no longer working. Not because it’s uninteresting. But because the pace, the expectations, and the tools of the industry have changed. Deeply. And for good.
The textile trade show: a format stuck in another century
Back when letters took days to arrive and phones were shared in office corridors, trade shows were the only viable solution: gathering all key players from a fragmented supply chain in a single place. You had to board a plane just to feel a fabric, print tons of brochures, and hope that your collection would get noticed in a walk-by glance.
But let’s be honest: this model — however glamorous it looked on glossy catalog pages — is starting to feel a bit outdated. It’s expensive, energy-consuming, complicated to organize… and rarely aligned with actual business urgencies.
With increasingly tight collection calendars and rationalized budgets, it’s getting harder to justify a three-day trip just for thirty minutes of appointments.
Buyers in a hurry, more connected… and more demanding
Today’s buyers have changed. They won’t wait six months to discover a new collection. They want instant access. They’re no longer satisfied with a fabric swatch at a booth. They want to zoom, compare, and share feedback with their team — in real time.
The digital age has swept in, taking the idea of “physical presentation” along with it. Why hop on a plane when you can access everything from a laptop or tablet? Why wait until September for a demo when you could have one on demand? Even highly technical discussions, once considered impossible remotely, have gone digital.
A fabric can now be compared with a 3D version, a print simulated on screen, a decision validated in a video call. And yes, it works.
Digital tools that outmatch even the best trade show booth
3D prototyping replaces fabric mockups. The virtual showroom replaces physical samples.
The online configurator allows you to iterate, customize, and co-create without geographic limits — with striking efficiency.
It’s simple: online means faster results, lower costs, and better environmental impact.
No need for badges, flights or private booths. A well-designed digital experience, available in a few clicks, can impress a client or win over a partner.
Even better: the digital journey leaves a trace, records interactions, and measures performance. Things no fabric mockup or trade show aisle can do for you.
Reevaluating the ROI of trade shows
And then, there’s the uncomfortable truth: what’s the return on investment? Participating in a show is expensive. Very expensive. And returns are not always worth the price. Unqualified leads, tired prospects, and competitors jostling for attention — not to mention the physical exhaustion of three days of appointments — often lead to fewer deals than hoped.
Brands are beginning to ask the right question: why pour so much energy into a temporary event, when digital tools can ensure continuous, active, and measurable presence?
Transparency, sustainability, accessibility: the new standards
The textile world isn’t just evolving in style — it’s evolving in expectations. Buyers want to see beyond the samples. They expect full visibility on the supply chain, material origins, and CSR commitments. Topics that don’t always shine under the spotlights of a trade fair.
Digital delivers where print fails. It informs, documents, proves, and updates. Most importantly, it never sleeps.
Available 24/7, anywhere in the world, with no booth limits or badge access. Digital opens new doors — and keeps them open all year round.
What S2G XR can change
At S2G XR, the goal isn’t to replace trade shows. It’s to go further. Faster. Smarter.
The platform brings together — in one single space — everything textile professionals have been waiting for (without daring to ask): an immersive digital showroom, a powerful online configurator, a smooth and collaborative collection management system, and a 3D universe designed not just to showcase… but to convince.
Accessible 24/7, with no travel, no constraints. Whether you’re a designer, manufacturer, buyer or reseller, S2G XR allows you to present, adjust, sell, and co-create — without waiting for the next trade fair.
Because innovation doesn’t wear a badge — it just needs a brilliant execution.
How to digitize your textile showroom without losing your brand’s soul
Going digital shouldn’t mean going soulless. In a world where textile and fashion move faster and smarter, how can your brand embrace virtual showrooms while preserving its identity ?
Online textile sourcing: the silent revolution of European manufacturers
The digital sourcing shift is here — and it’s changing everything. From 3D fabrics to smart filters, discover how European textile manufacturers are turning online platforms into real growth engines.