Welcome to Beer & Gear, a series where we get to know individuals making big moves in Portland’s Athletic and Outdoor industries. In this edition, author Ellee Thalheimer talks with Kyle Batie, operations manager at RX, an event company that produces the Functional Fabric Fair.
“You’re going to see fabrics from A to Z at Portland’s spring Functional Fabric Fair,” says Kyle Batie as he swigs a pilsner from Leikam Brewery in Southeast Portland.
Kyle is the operations manager at RX, the event company that produces four Functional Fabric Fair editions per year—two in Portland plus shows in New York City and Orlando. “For example, there’s a huge booth showcasing all the zippers you could possibly want; there are niche products with cutting-edge technologies centered around keeping warm, keeping cool, keeping dry, reflectivity, being lightweight, durability.”
From April 7-9, the Functional Fabric Fair will descend on the Oregon Convention Center, bringing more than 300 vendors and 2,000 industry professionals in an extravaganza of the latest trends and innovations in responsibly-sourced, high-performance functional fabrics, trims, and accessories—with a focus on outdoor, activewear, lifestyle, and workwear markets. Staging two annual events in Portland is very intentional; they are Functional Fabric Fair’s largest.
“Portland is a great location, being the headquarters of businesses like Columbia, Nike, and Adidas, plus so many local small businesses, upstarts, and specialty brands,” says Batie, who joined the RX team in 2021. “Since 2018, Portland’s Function Fabric Fairs have grown about 50%.”
About 80% of this year’s vendors will be international, representing more than 25 countries, primarily from North America, Europe, Asia, and South America, including our Portland darling, Pine Crest Fabrics. On the attendee side, designers, sourcing teams, product developers, material managers, and executives hail from 24 states and Canada, emphasizing Portland’s status as a key hub for the footwear and apparel industry.
While roaming booth to booth, attendees rub elbows, network, and create relationships with vetted suppliers as they search for the perfect fabric. “Folks from Patagonia and The North Face and other techy sport companies want the latest technology, and small local companies want the same thing,” says Batie.
This trade-only sourcing event also features expert-led education, supplier recommendations, an initiative to expose students to textile and apparel developers, and curated showcases like the bodywear exhibit—bodywear is big this year. If attendees need a burst of energy, baristas will pull them espressos; and snacks like fresh-shaved prosciutto are on hand.
“I’ve done shows in 40 different convention centers, and Portland’s is totally different,” says Batie. “One of our primary priorities for events is sustainability, and the Oregon Convention Center is incredible. Their power comes 25% from renewable sources, and I’ve never seen a recycling program as detailed. They audit bins to make sure everything is going to the right place.”
Batie adds, “And I love that we decorate with real live plants at the Portland shows. I spend a lot of time at Portland Nursery. Lemon trees. Big conifers. Fantastic.”
To underline the Portland event’s sustainability focus, the Portland Functional Fabric Fair hosts Day 0, a pre-event day conference of sustainability workshops. It has grown exponentially over the years; this year at the Hyatt Regency across from the convention center they expect to fill the 300-person maximum.
“We look forward to staying in Portland,” says Batie. “Maybe one day we’ll take up the entire Convention Center and fill the ballroom with sustainability workshops.”
Leikam Brewery
Leikam Brewery is a member of the Oregon Brewshed® Alliance, a coalition of breweries and conservation partners committed to protecting forest watersheds and clean water sources. Leikem has brewed special beers, like Third Stone From the Sun Pale Ale, spotlighting water protection efforts. Additionally, they host charity Pint Nights where a portion of the proceeds go to good causes, like Elakha Alliance, a sea otter conservation group. Whenever possible they support local farmers and Salmon-Safe Certified ingredients.
Ellee Thalheimer is a Portland-based freelance writer and guidebook author. When she can’t get to the trails, she’s writing fiction, relishing local IPAs, falling off bouldering walls, and obsessively scheming the next adventure. Find her on Instagram: @pnw_hedonism.
