Functional Fabric Fair Summer 2026 Exhibitor List

Active Sports Designer & Consultant Expert in Performance Sports Clothing and Workwear Design with over 20 years of experience in the apparel industry and design agency, curator of functional fabrics for over 14 years for Performance Days and for over 5 years for Functional Fabric Fair, lecturer. She has an extensive network of leading experts as well as personal connections to relevant collaborators and supporters that are profitable for her clients and the textile industry.

After her studies at the renowned Deutsche Meisterschule für Mode in Munich (Germany), Nora immersed herself deeply into the world of sport and design. For many years she has been committed to develop sportswear collections. Working for many well-known international brands in the fields of ski, golf, tennis, soccer, swimwear and fitness has always been both challenge and inspiration. Entering the stages of major trade fairs (like OutDoor show, ISPO Munich and PERFORMANCE DAYS) to deliver trend speeches meant the thrilling start of a new phase in her professional career. Today Nora’s scope of work is mainly centred around trend forecasting and creative consultancy. She describes herself as a collector, observer and storyteller, reframing the way we live, produce and use by thinking beyond the conventional. Excited by shaping the future and sharing knowledge, she founded the international SPORTS . DESIGN . Masterclass project in 2015. A workshop project for students from all around the globe, dedicated to fresh and and innovative design concepts.

Lucas Tyson is a Senior Business Developer at Hologenix, assisting North American brand partners with the integration of CELLIANT® into their textile-based products, partnering throughout the product development and sell-through process. Lucas has over 15 years of experience in the apparel, footwear, and fiber advocacy spaces with a particular affinity for trend analysis, sportswear, retail, and inventory management. Prior to Hologenix, Lucas was instrumental in increasing The Woolmark Company's account base as he initiated key account partnerships that included high-caliber luxury and heritage retail brands. He has authored content for Inside Outdoor Magazine, Retail TouchPoints, Small Business CEO, and has showcased technical expertise as a keynote speaker for the Advanced Textiles Conference, Southern Textile Research Conference and more.

Joe Walkuski is the Founder and CEO of Texbase, a leading provider of cloud software to the consumer products industry. With a career spanning over four decades, Joe has established himself as a prominent figure in the textile, apparel, and software sectors. Joe's journey began in the mid-80s, and for thirteen years, he held the position of Director of Textile Research & Development at Patagonia. In 1997, he played a pivotal role as a founding member of Patagonia's Advanced Concept Development Center in Bozeman, Montana. During his tenure at Patagonia, Joe's innovative spirit led to numerous breakthroughs in the textile industry. Notable achievements include establishing the first global supply chain for organic cotton and pioneering the conversion of recycled PET bottles into polyester fabrics. In 2002, Joe leveraged his extensive expertise and entrepreneurial drive to establish Texbase. The company offers a comprehensive suite of services in materials, testing, color management, compliance, and supply chain collaboration, all delivered through their Software as a Service platform. Texbase has emerged as a trusted solution for the consumer products industry, enabling businesses to streamline their operations and enhance the value of their brands. Joe's educational background includes graduating from the esteemed Fashion Institute of Technology. His contributions to the industry have been recognized with various accolades and awards, showcasing his dedication and impact. Beyond his professional endeavors, Joe is an avid outdoorsman who appreciates the beauty of Southwest Montana. He takes full advantage of the region's natural wonders alongside his wife and family, finding solace and inspiration in the great outdoors.

Sarah has spent the last decade plus creating successful sustainability programs from the ground up and has shared her deep knowledge of supply chain sustainability, claims and labeling, and nonprofit entrepreneurship with diverse audiences worldwide. She brings this experience to her role as the Director of Operations and Special Projects at Accelerating Circularity, supporting all aspects of Accelerating Circularity’s programs and leading its work on Spent Textile Feedstock development in the US. She holds a BFA in Art History from the University of Kansas and a MS in Sustainability Management from Columbia University in the City of New York.

Jaime Griggs serves as Senior Sales Executive for Hohenstein Institute America. In this role, she focuses on building quality, chemical and performance testing programs through collaborative relationships with U.S. brands and retailers and their suppliers. Prior to joining Hohenstein in 2021, Jaime worked for 10 years in product management at Geneva Watch Group, managing design, production, and quality programs throughout numerous product lifecycles. She brings the unique experience of once managing her own fashion quality programs, to now helping retailers and brands in managing their own. Jaime holds a B.S. in Fashion Marketing & Merchandising from the Laboratory Institute of Merchandising (LIM College).

Will is a partner in the Los Angeles office of Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP and the Head of Consumer Markets, US and Co-Lead for ESG and Human Rights, US. He concentrates his practice on product safety and compliance, ESG, and market access for the US and California. Will's expertise includes product recalls, incident evaluation, and regulatory compliance for consumer products, food, cosmetics, and automotive parts; ESG issues in transactions, supply chain dynamics, modern slavery and human rights, and greenwashing, brand, and advertising; and compliance and enforcement for chemicals and pesticides, including Proposition 65 and PFAS substances.

Caitlyn LaCorata-Smith is an experienced sustainability manager, with a background in textiles and production. She currently manages global sustainability programming for PVH and is focused on scaling environmental efficiencies across the apparel product lifecycle.

Maria C. Thiry has been with AATCC since May of 2000. She is the current Communications and Membership Director of the Association, responsible for membership support as well as the Association’s bimonthly magazine, AATCC Review, bimonthly peer-reviewed journal, AATCC Journal of Research, and twice-monthly newsletter, AATCC News. AATCC Review and AATCC News have won multiple awards for their feature articles, and AATCC Review was listed as one of the “Top 25” business-to-business publications in English by TABPI (Trade Association Business Publications International).

Event Designer, musician, martial artist and connector of creative minds, Michelle spent more than 20 years leading creative teams and designing performance fashion and apparel for the largest outdoor companies in the industry. With millions of her styles sold around the globe, if you’ve ever purchased outerwear from Columbia Sportswear or The North Face, it is highly likely you have one of her pieces in your closet…still. Following her passion to lead and mentor others in professional creative development, Michelle cofounded Struktur Event in 2013, the first creative conference for the design community of the active, outdoor, and urban industries. In 2021 she founded Struktur Society, a professional community for creators in art, design and music. Michelle received certification in Design Futures from The Institute For The Future in 2022 and is currently working on the launch of UnStruktured, the Substack and podcast of Struktur Society.

Andrew exploded into the home decor market in 2000, designing knitted textile decorative accessories using his tailored, cutting-edge, and modern aesthetic honed over the twelve years he spent creating exclusive apparel lines as ready-to-wear Design Director. His signature fashion-forward style attracted clients including Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, Barneys, Saks Fifth Avenue, Burberry, and hundreds of specialty stores. In 2006, Andrew launched a hospitality and spa collection that received an immediate embrace. His hotel clients included Four Seasons, Ritz Carlton, Kimpton Hotels, Omni Hotels, Waldorf Astoria, Miraval Hotel and Spa, Mandarin Oriental LV, among many others. He has always anticipated and addressed the ever-changing needs of his discerning clientele. As a textile innovator who designs products to solve aesthetic and housekeeping issues, he introduced antimicrobial and environmentally conscious yarns over twenty years ago. Currently, Andrew is the founder of the KNYTLAB, a collection of technical knits and performance wovens inspired by international travel and a fashion-forward aesthetic. The KNYTLAB collection is based on the 'Circular Economy' concept, enabling the end user to design, redesign, repurpose, or embellish, creating a new aesthetic with practical solutions and easy care.

Elizabeth McGarry is the Founder and Creative Director of DAUGHTERS And Sons, an award-winning multidisciplinary studio working at the intersection of sport, style, and culture. With more than 20 years of experience, she partners with teams who want to build from the inside out- shaping brand strategy, design direction, and culture-defining creative for running and […]

During her 20-plus year tenure at Schoeller, Schoenenberger has led product development and design for various fabric collections from the 155-year textile and textile technologies brand at its headquarters and mill in Sevelen, Switzerland. Schoenenberger has managed the technical fabrication process from the ground up with yarn sourcing and weaving technique research and selection to trend forecasting and collection launch marketing. She has worked closely with the global sales team and brand partners to create and enable custom surfaces and special effects in categories including high fashion, snow sports, outdoor and motorsports. Her designs have twice won Design Switzerland awards (in 2005 and 2009). Schoenenberger graduated from the Swiss Textile School and holds an Executive Master’s degree from the Basel Academy of Art and Design.

With a wealth of experience in sales, marketing, communications and strategy management, Maryellen brings a diverse perspective to her role as consumer insights manager. Maryellen's expertise lies in translating consumer research data into actionable insights to understand consumer perspectives and drive business growth. Her keen analytical skills and understanding of consumer behavior have created successful partnerships across various industries, including building and construction, health and beauty, and textiles. Through her strategic insights, Maryellen helps organizations make informed decisions, refine innovation programs and enhance their market presence. Having joined Eastman in 2013, Maryellen is based at the global headquarters in Kingsport, Tennessee, where she plays a pivotal role in designing and delivering meaningful insights for her business clients, leveraging her industry knowledge and data-driven approach to provide valuable market intelligence.