February 16, 2025
Business Companies

‘Colombiatex 2025’ Textile-Fashion Industry Show Here Marks Records

Medellin-based textile/clothing industry group Inexmoda announced January 30 that the just-concluded, 37th annual “Colombiatex” trade show at Plaza Mayor here drew more than 29,000 visitors and 17,800 national and international buyers.

Medellin and its immediate suburbs have been the center of Colombia’s textile manufacturing, clothing design and final production for more than 100 years, despite the decline or demise of former textile giants such as Coltejer and Tejicondor – mainly victims of cheap clothing imports in recent decades, mostly from Asia (especially China).

So, to survive and thrive, metro Medellin’s new or remaining textile and clothing manufacturers have gradually learned to specialize in certain innovative products and designs — not only for domestic markets, but also especially for international markets, including the U.S. market.

“For three consecutive days, 619 exhibitors showed the impact the fashion has on the global economy establishing strategic connections between commercial partners from over 20 different countries,” Inexmoda bragged.

“This edition [of Colombiatex] is unique, not only reflecting optimism from the entrepreneurs of the whole national value chain, but also their interest of connecting with the world and creating new opportunities through a unique value offer standing out for being innovative, highly creative and with a centenary history,” added Inexmoda CEO Sebastián Díez.

Colombiatex de las Americas hosted 15,900 national buyers from Antioquia, Cundinamarca, Valle del Cauca, Santander and Norte de Santander, and 1,900 international buyers from countries including Ecuador, Venezuela, Peru, Mexico and USA, according to the trade group.

Among the international buyers, “420 were part of ProColombia’s [trade promotion] mission, facilitating negotiations with an export expectation of more than US$25 million” along with domestic business deals, according to Inexmoda.

On the heels of Colombiatex, Inexmoda announced that it is also organizing two more specialty shows for 2025 and 2026:

  1. “Colombia Fashion Summit” (October 2, 2025), focusing on “trends, business models, and international expansion.”
  2. “NEXTECH” (September 22-24, 2026), described as “the first Latin-American tradeshow specialized in technology, machinery, and innovation for the fashion value chain.”

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