Sustainable materials for fashion and footwear will take centre stage at the NextGen Fashion Material Tech Talk, scheduled for 13 March 2026 during APLF 2026 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Running from 12 to 14 March 2026, APLF is recognised as one of the world’s leading trade platforms for the leather and fashion materials industries. Hosted annually in Hong Kong, the event brings together three co-located fairs — APLF Leather, Materials+, and Fashion Access — connecting tanneries, material innovators, manufacturers and global fashion brands under one roof.
The NextGen Material Tech Talk, curated as part of the Materials+ exhibition, is expected to draw around 150 participants from across the industry. Attendees will include representatives from fashion and footwear brands, sustainability leaders, R&D professionals, investors and industry analysts.
Scheduled between 14:00 and 17:00 on 13 March, the forum will feature keynote presentations, expert panel discussions and short innovation pitches. The programme will examine advancements in bio-based materials, circular design strategies and emerging alternatives to conventional leather and textiles.
One of the key sessions will be a panel discussion titled “Scaling Bio-Based Alternatives”, which will focus on how next-generation materials can move beyond laboratory research and into industrial-scale production and broader commercial adoption.
Overall, the half-day forum aims to create a collaborative space for knowledge exchange, innovation showcases and potential partnerships, helping accelerate the development and adoption of sustainable materials across the global fashion and footwear supply chain.
