Functional Fabric Fair Portland 2026

Functional Fabric Fair powered by Performance Days is the sourcing and education platform for the performance and outdoor textile industry. The Portland edition features over 300 sustainable-certified suppliers showcasing functional fabrics, trims, finishes and textile technologies, with the Day Zero Sustainability Workshop opening the fair with regulatory updates, material strategies, case studies and roundtables.

bluesign will be presenting the following:

Hidden in Plain Sight: Protecting Supply Chain Workers from Solvent Risks

• Panelists:
  • Sumit Sarker, Sustainable Textile Expert – bluesign technologies AG
  • Taylor Ralph – Product Sustainability Manager, Burtonm
• Time: Monday, Oct 26th, 01:00 PM – 01:50 PM
• Location: Oregon Ballroom 203

Solvents are everywhere in the apparel and textile supply chain. They can be found in adhesives, coatings, cleaning processes, and finishing treatments. Yet, they rarely get the attention they deserve. Many are hazardous to workers, and brands that aren’t asking about solvent use may be exposed to risks they don’t fully understand. Speakers explain why solvents are a critical worker health issue, where they are most commonly found across the supply chain, and what brands can do to assess and reduce risk, from supplier engagement and chemical inventories to safer substitution strategies.

From Chemical Inputs to Environmental Releases: Managing Environmental Risks in Textile Manufacturing

• Speaker: Sumit Sarker, Sustainable Textile Expert – bluesign technologies AG
• Time: Tuesday, Oct 27th, 4:55 PM – 5:40 PM
• Location: Main Stage

Chemicals used in textile manufacturing do not simply remain in the finished product. Depending on how they are selected, handled and processed, they may enter wastewater, be released to air, become part of sludge and other waste, or contaminate soil and groundwater through spills or leaks. This session follows these pathways from chemical input to environmental release and examines the controls needed at manufacturing sites. It will provide a practical overview of safer chemical selection, process control, wastewater and air-emission management, responsible waste handling, spill prevention and monitoring.