Shortly before the start of the next ISPO Munich on November 28, 2023 and thus the official kick-off of the new order season, numerous brands took the opportunity to submit their new product highlights to the ISPO Award. The number of high-quality product submissions was so high this time that the meeting was held over three days for the first time. As always, the six-member expert jury made up of industry professionals and enthusiastic athletes from the ISPO Collaborators Club was also present.
Multifunctionality was the focus for many product developers this year. Clothing and accessories, in particular, are no longer designed for a single sport, but for as many different uses as possible. Insulated jackets, for example, are increasingly being equipped with DWR waterproofing to extend their range of use. Highly functional jackets also complement their premium components with a fashionable look, making them suitable for the city.
Multifunctionality can also be achieved through modular designs, such as backpacks that can be equipped with other features as needed. Even goggles can be transformed into sunglasses for year-round use. This new multi-functionality and versatility appeals not only to consumers who want to consume less and be more conscious, but also to newcomers to the sport who don't want to commit just yet.
While the use of recycled materials has set new standards in recent seasons, some brands are now going one step further. Instead of recycling PET bottles, they are using their own textile waste or post-consumer textiles. This is the only way to really reduce our textile waste. While garment-to-garment recycling is still in its infancy, more and more brands are developing their own innovative solutions to increase the amount of recycled textile fiber. Even in the footwear sector, the first recyclable products are now available.
At the same time, the development of mono-material products that can be easily recycled at the end of their life is progressing. The industry is also working on digital solutions to better determine the material composition of products at the end of their useful life, thus facilitating recycling.
The issue of repairability is also on the agenda for brands, so that products can be used for longer. This is achieved, for example, through less complex product design or repair kits that come with the product.
As always, the jury team is made up of two groups: Industry professionals Martina Wengenmeir, Editor at Lage ISPO.com and Professor of Sports Journalism & Digitalization in Sports, magazine maker and snowboarding veteran Andi Spies, and textile expert and trade journalist Regina Henkel. In order to incorporate the consumer's perspective into the selection process, the jury is supported by passionate athletes from the ISPO Collaborators Club, who are selected anew each time.
This time, they included: Anna Simkovics, orienteer and athlete in the Austrian national team, Harald Angerer, journalist, blogger and specialist in the fields of trail running and ski mountaineering, and Dominic Rasp, multisport athlete and lecturer in sports science at the Technical University of Munich.
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