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Advanced Textiles Expo 2025 Show Preview

Plan your trip to Indy: Preview special events, the show schedule and an index of exhibitors and products

Features | September 1, 2025 | By: ATA

Join thousands of textile professionals as Advanced Textiles Expo comes to the Midwest. The industry’s flagship event brings a full offering of networking, innovation and education to Indianapolis in 2025. Connect with the industry for four days of excitement and check out everything Advanced Textiles Expo has to offer!

Education
Nov. 4–7

Show Floor
Nov. 5–7

Location
Indiana Convention Center
Indianapolis, IN USA

AdvancedTextilesExpo.com

Co-locating with 

The logo for the Sun Shading Expo North America includes two circular striped shapes. One is yellow with white horizontal stripes. One is blue with white horizontal stripes, but they mostly intersect.

Expand Your Experience

In addition to doing business on the show floor and sharpening your knowledge through education, get familiar with some of the other highlights happening this year in Indianapolis. Unless otherwise noted, all activities take place at the Indiana Convention Center.

The networking reception at Advanced Textiles Expo in Anaheim, California, in 2025. The image shows a big crowd of people in business attire standing and talking outdoors in front of the Anaheim Convention Center. One table of people is partially visible.
Photo: Mark Skalny

Advanced Textiles Expo Opening Reception

Wednesday, Nov. 5 | 4–5 pm

Included in all registration packages. Open to all attendees and exhibitors.

Mix and mingle with fellow attendees and exhibitors at the Opening Reception after the first day of Advanced Textiles Expo. Enjoy refreshments and great conversation to wrap up the first day of the show. 

Networking Roundtables

Wednesday, Nov. 5 | 2–3 PM

Included in all registration packages. Open to all attendees and exhibitors.

Networking roundtables will give Advanced Textiles Expo attendees the opportunity to discuss issues facing their businesses. Join your fellow fabricators and suppliers to talk about challenges and opportunities ranging from tariffs to workforce development to overcoming sales objections.

Hangin' By A Thread is a cover band made up of textile industry professionals that performs annual at Advanced Textiles Expo. Seven participants are pictured on stage here, three with guitars, the lead singer in the middle and one with a tambourine. Others are performing background vocals or are partially hidden. Five men and two women are on stage.
Photo: Mark Skalny

Industry Night

Wednesday, Nov. 5 | 7–9 pm

Location: Slippery Noodle Inn

Tickets required. Member $79, nonmember $99. The option to buy multiple tickets to invite colleagues or clients is also available.

The most popular night at Advanced Textiles Expo returns to Indianapolis! Gather with other attendees and exhibitors at this lively event where you will hear live music from ATA’s member band Hangin’ by a Thread, enjoy delicious local food and converse with your peers across the industry. Hosted at the historic Slippery Noodle Inn, Industry Night attendees will enjoy live music, great drinks and food. Industry Night requires an add-on ticket. Limited availability.

Textiles Challenge is a fun hands-on activity at Advanced Textiles Expo. Here, two participants are competing in a timed patterning exercise. In the foreground on the right is Leila Lawson competing against her boss, Dan King, farther back in the photo on the left. They are arranging irregular shapes on a black square.
Photo: Mark Skalny

Textiles Challenge

Thursday, Nov. 6

Back for 2025! Textiles Challenge is a hands-on activity to test your skills. Participate in various textiles challenges and advance to the final round. 

Equipment manufacturers demonstrate their equipment on the show floor. Here people are gathered in the Pathfinder booth to look at cutting equipment.
Photo: Mark Skalny

Show Floor Demonstrations

Wednesday, Nov. 5 | 9:30 AM–3:30 PM 

Thursday, Nov. 6 | 9:30 AM–3 PM

Friday, Nov. 7 | 9 AM–12:30 PM

Show floor demonstrations will be occurring throughout Advanced Textiles Expo in exhibitor booths.

Experience the Emerging Technologies Conference at Advanced Textiles Expo

Emerging Technologies Conference kicks off Tuesday, Nov. 4, with a full day dedicated to emerging technologies education and networking opportunities. Attendees will explore forward-looking topics such as artificial intelligence (AI), sustainability, space-related developments, medical textiles and other innovations shaping the future of the textile industry. On Wednesday, Nov. 5, the conference transitions to Advanced Textiles Expo, where additional education sessions and demonstrations will be available on the show floor throughout the rest of the week.

To attend, register for Advanced Textiles Expo and add Emerging Technologies Conference. This includes full access to all Nov. 4 classroom sessions plus three days of show floor admission, featuring education sessions, equipment demonstrations, the opening reception, Textiles Challenge, women’s leadership sessions and networking opportunities. 

Learn more and explore the full schedule at AdvancedTextilesExpo.com/EmergingTech

Panel discussions take place at Advanced Textiles Expo. This is the panel on artificial intelligence at the Anaheim event in 2024. There are three experts seated on stools and a moderator at far right asking questions while seated behind a podium. From left are Anirudh Sharma, Jim Joyce, Manu Venkataramu and Paige Mullis.
Photo: Mark Skalny

Show Floor Education Sessions

Engage in free, informal sessions on the show floor featuring the latest industry insights. Make sure to take advantage of as many as possible! Schedules are subject to change.

View the full list at AdvancedTextilesExpo.com/Education

Topics include

AI for All: Practical Tools to Streamline Your Business

Joint Ventures and Minimizing Risk: Simple Steps to Protect Your IP Interests

Marine Fabricators Association (MFA) Roadshow

Meeting NFPA 1970 Chemical Requirements

Microplastics in Textiles: Contributors, Challenges and the Path Forward

PFAS and the Textile Industry: 2025 Challenges, Solutions and Regulatory Updates 

Shade Sail Designs That Bombed—Don’t Make These Mistakes!

Student Showcase Series 

Unlocking the Power of Labels: Branding, Information and Textile Identification

Washington Policy Update: A Closer Look at Tariffs, Trade and Industry Regulation

Welding Fumes No More! How Polypropylene Fabrics Change the Story for Thermal Welding

Women’s Leadership Sessions 

Connie Huffa, CEO of Fabdesigns Inc. spoke to women in textiles about work-life balance. She is pictured at a podium.
Photo: Mark Skalny

Women in Textiles Programming

Women’s Leadership Sessions

Friday, Nov. 7 | 9:30 AM

Join us for inspiring Women’s Leadership Sessions on the show floor.

A women's networking walk is a recurring morning event at Advanced Textiles Expo. Pictured are groups of women walking and talking.
Photo: Mark Skalny

Women’s Networking Walk

Friday, Nov. 7 | 7 AM

Join other women in the industry to connect before the show floor opens. 

A man demonstrates Installing a curved zipper on window fabric at Marine Fabricators Association Road Show in 2024

Marine Fabricators Association Road Show

Friday, Nov. 7 | 9:30 AM–12:30 PM

Included in all registration packages. Open to all attendees and exhibitors.

Marine Fabricators Association presents a series of three topics, including selecting the appropriate materials for a variety of marine projects, traditional patterning and U-zip fabrication.

Sun Shading Expo North America

This year, Advanced Textiles Expo is again co-locating with Messe Stuttgart’s U.S.-based show, Sun Shading Expo North America. This brings a valuable component to the show floor and a chance to connect with fellow attendees and exhibitors.

Schedule at Advanced Textiles Expo

*Requires add-on purchase to registration.

Monday, Nov. 3

7:30 am–5:30 pm Onsite Registration/Check-in Open

8 am–5 pm Exhibitor Install

Tuesday, Nov. 4

7:30 am–5:30 pm Onsite Registration/Check-in Open

8 am–5 pm Exhibitor Install

9 am–5:30 pm Emerging Technologies Conference* 

5:30–6:30 pm Emerging Technologies Conference Networking Reception*

7 pm Pub Night with Professional Awning Manufacturers Association, ATA Canada and Fabric Structures Association

 Wednesday, Nov. 5

7 am–4 pm Onsite Registration/Check-in Open

9 am–4 pm Show Floor Open

• ATA Hub

• ATA Member Services

9:30 am–2:30 pm Show Floor Demonstrations

10 am–3 pm Industry Podcasts Live

10 am–3:30 pm Show Floor Education

2–3 pm Networking Roundtables

4–5 pm Advanced Textiles Expo Opening Reception

7–9 pm Industry Night at Slippery Noodle Inn*

Thursday, Nov. 6

7 am–4 pm Onsite Registration/Check-in Open

9 am–4 pm Show Floor Open

• ATA Hub

• ATA Member Services

9:30 am–4 pm Show Floor Demonstrations

10 am–3 pm Industry Podcasts Live

10 am–3:30 pm Show Floor Education

10 am–1 pm Textiles Challenge Qualifying Rounds

1:30-2 pm State of the Industry Update

2:30–4 pm Textiles Challenge Championship Round

Friday, Nov. 7

7 am–1 pm Onsite Registration/Check-in Open

7–8 am Women’s Networking Walk

9 am–12:30 pm Show Floor Demonstrations

9 am–1 pm Show Floor Open

• ATA Hub

• ATA Member Services

9:30–11:30 am Women’s Leadership Sessions

9:30 am–12:30 pm Marine Fabricators Association (MFA) Roadshow

10 am–Noon Industry Podcasts Live

1–8 pm Exhibitor Dismantle

Saturday, Nov. 8

8 am–Noon Exhibitor Dismantle

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