Innnovation Hub, Trends Lab and ReValue Stock Hub

Curated by Arzu Kaprol and Filiz Tunca the space showcased the latest advancements in textile engineering, digital production, and sustainable solutions. Among the highlights were Colourself Cotton, a self-dyeing cotton that dramatically reduces water and energy consumption; Biodegradable Pleats, elegant pleated textiles that are fully compostable; and striking materials such as Wavy Plush with its distinctive textured surface or Vegan Bioglitter, offering sparkling effects without harmful components. Other innovations included the double-sided Vismara scarf, versatile thanks to its refined construction, and high-tech yarns like Umorfil, which merge performance with comfort. With hemp applications also on display, the Innovation Hub presented a compelling spectrum of forward-thinking developments that underlined Türkiye’s role as a trendsetter in global textiles. Art and fashion also converged in visionary exhibits: the Arzu Kaprol X MoMA dress, first showcased at New York’s Museum of Modern Art in 2011, and the spectacular “Breath of Waves”, a deep burgundy taffeta dress at the intersection of design, concept, and kinetic art. Here, a specially integrated component shifts in color and light, evoking the fluid movement of waves. This creation—born from the collaboration of Arzu Kaprol Design, conceptual artist Burcum Türkmen, and kinetic sculptor Server Demirtaş—transforms technology into organic motion, turning the garment into a living surface and immersive experience that blurs the boundaries between clothing, art, and innovation.

With this unique mix of visionary textiles and artistic exploration, the Innovation Hub made clear: Turkish textiles are not only synonymous with quality, but also with innovation that inspires and sets global trends.

The Texhibition AW26-27 Trends Lab approached fashion not just as clothing, but as a cultural and technological journey that speaks to the individual’s inner world. Curated by the Istanbul Moda Academy (IMA) — one of Türkiye’s leading fashion education and research institutions, renowned for shaping future design talent and pioneering innovation in the textile and apparel sectors — the innovative face of knit and woven fabrics was explored through four main themes, each offering visitors a multi-layered field of discovery. Mindscape fused science with intuition, using organic fibers, recycled yarns, and calming textures to evoke mindfulness and serenity.Beatroots returned to nature and cultural heritage, blending cotton, linen, and natural dyes with surfaces echoing stone, earth, and plants, where traditional craft met digital design. Soul-utions put technology at the center: smart textiles, multi-layered structures, and light-responsive fabrics turned fashion into a sensory experience. Royal Hippie celebrated small luxuries and emotional connections with soft textures, nostalgic patterns, and craft-inspired details. Presented in the Knit section (Hall 4) and Woven section (Hall 5), these curated selections embodied Texhibition’s vision of fashion as a manifesto of healing, sustainable luxury, and aesthetic innovation.

With the ReValue Stock Hub, Texhibition Istanbul introduced a forward-looking platform that tackles one of the industry’s most pressing challenges: textile surplus. By showcasing high-quality leftover fabrics and materials, the hub created new opportunities for designers, brands, and manufacturers to integrate existing resources into fresh collections. It turned stock into value – promoting circularity, creativity, and responsible sourcing as key pillars of the future textile economy.