More than 100 fabric and accessory collections for Spring/Summer 2028 will go on show in Cannes on 27–29 October 2026, when MarediModa opens its 24th edition at the Palais des Festivals. For buyers sourcing premium beachwear, underwear and athleisure materials, it's the first full look at the season's European supply base — and a chance to audit it in person.

The fair follows preview events in Miami and Milan, and MarediModa President Claudio Taiana is framing Cannes as the main event rather than a stop on a circuit. "We return to Cannes following our initiatives in Miami and Milan, confident that we have prepared the year's key industry event to the highest possible standard," he said. He didn't shy away from the trading environment either: "In a climate of widespread and profound uncertainty, MarediModa represents a safe harbour in terms of product quality, ethics, innovation and creativity."

That "safe harbour" framing matters for sourcing teams. The show's emphasis on ethical manufacturing and environmental responsibility is pitched squarely at buyers under pressure to trace their tier-two suppliers, and Cannes puts more than 100 European mills and specialist studios in one building for three days.

What's on the programme for SS28?

The trend programme anchors the show. David Shah and his team have curated five creative directions covering consumer attitudes, lifestyles, colours and materials across beachwear, bodywear and athleisure, all under the overarching concept Ocean Vibes. The forecasts draw on music and contemporary subcultures, with an emphasis on individuality and optimism. Shah presents the full overview in Cannes, following the earlier previews.

Beyond the trends, the programme includes:

• Trend presentations and workshops
• Dedicated athleisure displays
• Specialist print and design studios
• Contract manufacturers

That last category is the quiet headline for brands without in-house production: the fair doubles as a matchmaking venue between European mills and cut-and-sew capacity.

Where does fibre innovation fit?

The Lycra Company joins as an official partner, marking the bikini's 80th anniversary through its Designed to Move. Built to Last project, developed with Italian fabric manufacturers Carvico and Jersey Lomellina. An exhibition of bikinis and artistic illustrations will trace beachwear's evolution from the 1960s to the present, positioning Lycra fibre as a through-line in swimwear innovation.

The technical story sits with Lycra Xtra Life fibre, engineered for resistance to chlorine, heat, sun lotions and UV exposure — the claim being that swimwear retains fit, comfort and performance over a longer garment life. For buyers weighing durability claims against cost, that's a fibre-level specification worth verifying at the stand. A presentation combining live music, imagery and technology runs on 27 October at 6pm, tying textile innovation to garment durability.

Who are the new suppliers to watch?

The Link 2026, MarediModa's emerging design talent competition, drew 133 submissions from students at leading universities and fashion schools — a significant increase on 2025, though the organisers didn't give the prior year's figure. Finalists show their work in a dedicated exhibition area before a fashion show on the evening of 28 October.

For sourcing directors, the show's value is straightforward: an early, consolidated read on the fabrics, technologies and creative directions shaping the Summer 2028 market, three seasons out. The sourcing decision it forces is calendar placement — brands that wait for the diffusion of these trends downstream will buy later, and likely at worse terms, than those auditing the European mills in Cannes this October.