Material World Closes Its New York Show

The Material World New York fabrics, sourcing and technology trade show, usually held in the fall at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, has been cancelled, but the show may go on in a different city and date, confirmed a spokesperson for the show’s producer, Kennesaw, Ga.shy;–based Urban Expositions.

Urban Expos launched the New York edition of Material World four years ago, but the show never achieved the traffic and exhibitor base that its spring event, Material World Miami Beach, had garnered. Last year’s New York show saw the absence of several major exhibitors from the event’s Technology Solutions section, which covers design and production software.

A spokesperson for the show producer said executives are working to finalize a new location, venue and dates that best serve the needs of the sewn-products industry and should make an announcement in the near future.

In the past, show organizers have toyed with the idea of bringing the show to the West Coast, possibly to Los Angeles, and that plan may still come to fruition, though Urban Expos executives have not confirmed any dates yet.

With the departure of Material World New York, Premiegrave;re Vision Preview, the European fabrics showcase, remains as the city’s only significant textile show.

Material World New York launched after the shuttering of the longstanding IFFE (International Fashion Fabric Exposition) show in New York.

“It’s a sign of the times,” said Rita Winston of Los Angeles textile company Elyan Enterprises. “People are trying to save money by going to fewer shows. The last New York show was not that great, but the one before was pretty good. We would have shown at this show.”

Winston said the company does most of its business at the Los Angeles International Textile Show, which is set for April14–16 at the California Market Center.

“We can survive without New York. We mainly used the show as an opportunity for our East Coast clients to see us in person,” she said. —R.M.