In a world where commercial and cultural geographies are being redefined, global trade is being disrupted and traditional scales must be reconsidered, Première Vision is reaffirming its strategic commitment to supporting craftsmanship by shining a light on territories.

Rich in know-how, territories are places where skills have been documented, preserved and revitalised, bringing together memory and momentum, heritage and innovation. They are also a source of foresight, offering a framework for imagining new ways of doing, seeing, creating and thinking.

Conceived as a journey through the many identities of savoir-faire and their geographies, the exhibition will explore the capacity of textile territories to engage in dialogue. It will offer a focused look at Japan, Portugal and France, presented through a dedicated route of exhibitors, as well as conferences, keynote speeches and cross-border discussions in the Prospective Area.

For the February 2026 edition, Première Vision will explore the world’s wealth of savoir-faire, moving from the local to the farthest reaches and from raw materials to creators. The initiative reflects a broader commitment to developing local models as models for the future: rediscovering what already exists, nurturing local skills, championing diversity, reconnecting with nature, and highlighting the breadth of textile culture and innovation already in motion.

France will be presented as a territory steeped in fashion history, inspiring and nurturing workshops, creativity, artists, artisans and manufacturers within a thriving ecosystem of museums, schools and international students. The country’s fashion capital continues to evolve beyond couture houses and ateliers, supporting the next generation of artisans and designers and embracing creativity in all its forms.

The exhibition will also highlight hybridised skills born of cultural exchange, drawing on both high tradition and subversion. Centuries-old techniques such as Leavers lace and embroidery in Calais and Caudry remain living fragments of history, now challenged by a new generation of artisans and creators blending cultural and countercultural elements. This creative diversity is supported by territorial catalysts and incubators such as the Mediterranean fashion house and the newly launched Tremplin Mode et Textile.

Alongside heritage, the narrative will consider territories reinventing themselves in the wake of deindustrialisation, driven by resilient industrialists and entrepreneurs shaping new local approaches. With ambitions to champion textile culture, create momentum and connect with people, these businesses are increasingly using ecological transition to reinvent heritage, organisations and professions, while taking pride in their place within Living Heritage.

Portugal will be presented as a committed territory that acts, researches, proposes, preserves and supports. It has built an ecosystem placing sustainability at its core, where entrepreneurs, workers, universities and technology centres create fertile ground for ethical fashion resources. With true diversity of savoir-faire and a cutting-edge industry, Portugal’s organised textile clusters in the north, around the Ave and Cávado valleys, enable control of the entire chain from yarn to fabric to finished garment, delivering a high level of vertical integration.

Sustainable practices include reduced water consumption, energy efficiency, lower-impact raw materials, short supply chains, closed-loop dyeing systems and circular solutions. New 100% plant-based Portuguese fibres are also emerging, using indigenous products such as eucalyptus, coffee waste and tree bark. Next-generation fibres derived from regenerative agriculture and bio-based or biofabricated sources are contributing to a broader transformation, supported by investments in technology, machinery, logistics and short-run production capacity. Digital garment passports, QR codes enabling real-time measurement of environmental impact, and AI-assisted defect detection using sensors and cameras are further signals of structural sustainability.

As key players in the sector’s ongoing revolution, Portuguese manufacturers are positioned as active supporters of European sustainable designers, offering a reservoir of unifying resources addressing the major challenges of today and tomorrow.

Japan will be showcased as a land of savoir-faire shaped by a long history of interaction with the natural environment. Rare and precious skills cultivated by guardians of nature emerge from a textile tradition rooted in local natural materials, carefully transformed by artisans. These practices invite renewed attention to the Tamashii, the soul of objects, and to the ageing, accidents and inevitable changes that shape their lives.

Artisans have revisited virtuous natural fibres and preserved heritage fibres such as Hasumi linen from Shimane, working with tireless precision and serenity. Their approach emphasises gradual refinement through repetition and the art of careful repair, reflecting a lasting relationship with each object. This connection to textiles and clothing is presented as something the industry must reconnect with today.

Japan continues to fascinate artisans from around the world, who travel to learn from masters of indigo and immerse themselves in animal and plant dyeing, knotting and braiding techniques. International collaborations, including French artisans in residence at Villa Kujoyama and partnerships with small Japanese manufacturers through the Edo Tokyo Kirari programme, further reinforce the territory’s role as a living hub of knowledge exchange.

From Kyoto to Osaka, a vibrant craft tradition coexists with companies cultivating meticulous standards, combining nature, high expectations and a long-term perspective to foster nature-minded savoir-faire.

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