Messe Frankfurt and Supima to Launch Prefab in New York in 2027 – Boutique-Style Fabric Sourcing Event
13 August 2026: Messe Frankfurt and Supima are launching Prefab, a boutique-style fabric sourcing event for the premium and luxury apparel market, on 19-20 January 2027 at the Altman Building in New York City.
The premiere expo will bring selected Supima member fabric mills together with senior designers, fabric directors, product developers and sourcing decision-makers. Only Supima member mills will be eligible to exhibit, with about 40 selected mills expected at the first edition.
Prefab is positioned as a compact alternative to a conventional trade fair. A uniform, design-led presentation is intended to give each mill equal visibility and put fabric quality, technical expertise and direct business exchange ahead of booth size or visitor volume. Visitor outreach will target senior professionals responsible for design, fabric development, sourcing and purchasing at premium and luxury brands.
Supima is the association and brand for American-grown extra-long staple Pima cotton, promoted for fibre strength, softness, durability and colour retention. Prefab is meant to show how member mills turn that fibre into fabrics for shirting, tailoring, denim, knits and other apparel constructions.
“New York is one of the world’s most important fashion markets and the right place for a deliberately selective format,” said Jennifer Bacon, Vice President, Fashion and Apparel at Messe Frankfurt Inc. “Prefab brings outstanding Supima member mills together with the people making material decisions for leading brands – in a focused setting for expertise and long-term partnerships.”
Buxton Midyette, Vice President, Marketing and Promotions at Supima, said the event gives member mills a dedicated platform to present craftsmanship and innovation and meet decision-makers shaping future collections.
The Altman Building, a historic Chelsea venue near New York’s garment district, will host the first edition. Organisers said the setting supports focused presentations and quieter conversations, with mills presented on equal footing.
Prefab is part of Messe Frankfurt’s push into curated high-end apparel textile formats. In Europe, Val:ue Milan is due to debut from 3-5 February 2027 at The Mall in Milan’s Porta Nuova district, linking selected international manufacturers with the European fashion market. Prefab, by contrast, is framed as a North American format centred on Supima cotton and reserved for Supima member mills.
“With Value Milan and Prefab in New York, we are strategically expanding our global textile portfolio with highly focused formats that complement our established trade fairs,” said Olaf Schmidt, Vice President, Textiles and Textile Technologies at Messe Frankfurt.
Around 40 exhibitors and the exclusive Supima-member rule remain organiser plans ahead of the 2027 premiere. Messe Frankfurt’s Pre:fab event page currently also promotes wool, cashmere and silk alongside Supima cotton, so the final product mix should be checked closer to the show.
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