Functional Fabric Fair: Breaking Ground in Sustainable Apparel with NASA-Powered Innovations

The Functional Fabric Fair, powered by PERFORMANCE DAYS, recently held a successful event in Portland, Oregon. Over 260 textile suppliers from around the world showcased sustainable functional fabrics for the apparel industry’s Spring 2025/2026 collections. The event attracted 2,100 attendees and was praised for its product sourcing, networking opportunities, innovation, and education.

Event director Steve McCullough described this year’s event as exceeding all expectations, with a strong turnout on the first day setting the stage for an inspiring and groundbreaking event. Attendees had access to various key areas on the show floor that allowed them to learn, discover, and be inspired.

One of the highlights of the show was the Trend Forum, which featured a collection of 100 percent sustainable trend fabrics and accessories curated by a panel of experts. QR codes were available for attendees to learn more about the products, request samples, and visit the exhibitors. The Innovation Zone showcased never-before-seen products and technologies while the new Sustainability Lounge provided a collaborative space to discuss the future of sustainability.

The show also featured an exhibition from USU’s Outdoor Product Design & Development program that displayed revolutionary designs that use NASA-technology patents. An exhibition on NASA Technology Transfer Program was also new to the Functional Fabric Fair which highlighted innovations developed for exploration and discovery that are available to the public. Additionally, student projects from USU’s Outdoor Product Design & Development program were on display at