The country's largest textile and fashion expo Preview in Seoul runs from Aug. 20-22 at COEX Mall in Seoul's Gangnam-gu District. Shown is a scene from last year's event at the same venue held from Aug. 21-23, 2024. (Event's official website)

By Lee Dasom

Preview in Seoul, the country's largest textile and fashion expo, opened on Aug. 20 for a three-day run at COEX Mall in Seoul's Gangnam-gu District.

Marking its 26th year and under the motto "Innovation, Sustainability and Digital Convergence," the event hosts programs including exhibitions, global forums and seminars.

First, 515 domestic and foreign companies will participate in the exhibition to introduce trends in textile materials, fabrics and fashion, as well as showcase cutting-edge products such as textiles with eco-friendly, industrial and medical smart features and fashion technology that use artificial intelligence (AI).

Textile and fashion experts from Korea and overseas will discuss sustainable growth at the forums and themed seminars.

Business programs during the event will include trend fairs; business matching between international buyers and domestic companies; and investment briefings for textile and fashion startups to help Korean companies tap markets at home and abroad.

"We hope that the expo, which is now Asia's leading global event of its kind, emerge as a world-class platform that opens a sustainable future for the global textile and fashion industry," a source at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said. "The government will actively support the technological development of textiles by making all industrial processes eco-friendly and expanding the application of AI and digitalization."

dlektha0319@korea.kr