The two focal points of this year’s trade fair, sustainable travel and the natural product hemp, were particularly well received. The latter has been shown in all possible uses, from clothing to insulation materials to skis and cereal ingredients. There was also a great desire for sustainable travel, which was aroused at the exhibition stands of hiking tours, tourism regions and yoga travel providers and at lectures on the exhibition stage. “Tourism creates jobs in poorer regions of the world and exploring the world’s natural and cultural treasures promotes an understanding of how important it is to protect the environment,” said WeFair Managing Director Wolfgang Pfoser-Almer. At the same time, tourism fuels social inequalities and is responsible for a tenth of global greenhouse gas emissions. “That’s why we need new ways to discover the world.”
Picture gallery: Sustainability fair: That was the “WeFair” in Linz
(Photo: WeFair) Bild 1/38
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The WeFair also offered sustainable inspiration beyond the two focal points: on an area of 5,000 square meters, visitors were able to discover fair fashion, organic nutrition and an ecological lifestyle, try them on and try them out, buy them and talk to the people behind the products. The repair zone was very popular, where visitors could repair clothing, electrical appliances and other items themselves under expert guidance. At the “Jugend Eine Welt” clothing exchange, the clothes you brought with you could be exchanged for chic second-hand fashion.
There will be a change from next year: WeFair will only take place once a year, namely in Linz. “We are withdrawing from Vienna with great sadness,” says Pfoser-Almer. Five years ago they made the leap to Vienna. However, Corona, inflation and the stricter conditions in the Vienna event business meant that Vienna fell short of expectations.
New appointment
The situation in Upper Austria is completely different: “It all started in Linz, we have a loyal fan base here and we’ll stay here,” says Pfoser-Almer. By concentrating on one event per year, energy and creativity can be pooled and the date can also be made more flexible: WeFair 2025 will take place again from November 7th to 9th at the Design Center Linz.
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