BOULDER, COLO — Nov. 3, 2026 — From regulation and AI to durability and circularity, more than 300 leaders from 150 companies spent Oct. 26 in Portland, Ore., tackling the issues that will shape the next decade of the outdoor and apparel industries, at the 2026 Day 0 OIA Catalyst Conference, presented by GORE-TEX® Brand. The event opened Functional Fabric Fair Fall 2026, powered by PERFORMANCE DAYS®, which posted record attendance this year, selling out the exhibit hall.
The Catalyst Conference gave brands, suppliers, manufacturers and nonprofit organizations a place to learn about the most pressing sustainability challenges facing the outdoor and active apparel industries. The program combined practical sustainability guidance, regulatory updates, real-world case studies, sessions on AI and interactive breakout table workshops, with conversations spanning policy, climate commitments, supply chain risk, durability and circularity.
“Day 0 of Functional Fabric Fair set the stage for meaningful conversations about the future of outdoor and active apparel, and Catalyst reminded us what we can accomplish when we work together,” said Kent Ebersole, president of Outdoor Industry Association. “People came to Portland with big questions about durability, circularity, climate and compliance, and they left with new partners, resources and ideas to put into practice. The passion and engagement I saw this week have us eager to keep the conversations going and the progress moving.”
Bringing the Industry Together
Attendees traveled from more than a dozen countries, including Denmark, New Zealand, South Korea, Switzerland, and Sri Lanka. Outdoor and apparel brands in the room included adidas, Big Agnes, Brooks Running, Burton Snowboards, Carhartt, Cascade Designs, Columbia Sportswear Company, Fenix Outdoor Group, JanSport, KEEN, LifeStraw, Marmot, NEMO Equipment, Nike, Norrøna, Osprey, Outdoor Research, Patagonia, REI Co-op, Revelyst, Snow Peak, Stanley 1913, The North Face, and Toad&Co. Materials and manufacturing partners included Covation Bio, DuPont, Hyosung TNC, Michelin, PrimaLoft, Spectre A/S, W. L. Gore & Associates and YKK.
Keeping the Work Moving
Released alongside the Catalyst Conference, OIA published Managing Solvents of Concern in Outdoor Supply Chains, a free guidebook that offers a step-by-step framework for identifying where solvents of concern are used and getting clearer information from manufacturing partners. It requires no chemistry background and includes a tracking workbook and decision map. Safer supply chains are built by brands and manufacturers working from the same playbook, and this guidebook is meant to help them start.
In addition, OIA and the European Outdoor Group are surveying companies on how they measure durability, which design guidelines they follow and what has worked in practice. The Durability Survey invites apparel, footwear, hardgoods and equipment brands, along with their materials suppliers, to respond by Jan. 31, 2027. Responses will inform new industry guidance and best practices, and every participating company will receive the finished resource.
Learn more about OIA’s sustainability work at outdoorindustry.org.
Sponsor Support
The 2026 Day 0 OIA Catalyst Conference was made possible by the support of Title Sponsor GORE-TEX® Brand, Platinum Sponsor Hyosung TNC, and Bronze Sponsors Trillora Packaging Solutions, The Change Climate Project, and Prosper Portland.
Part of a Record-Setting Functional Fabric Fair
The Catalyst Conference kicked off three days of education, sourcing and networking at the Oregon Convention Center. Functional Fabric Fair Fall 2026 closed with its highest attendance to date, up 7 percent over Fall 2025, and a sold-out exhibit hall of more than 350 exhibitors.
“Brands came with real development timelines and left with new supplier relationships, and our exhibitors told us the quality of conversations on the floor was the strongest they have seen,” said Steve McCullough, Event Vice President, Functional Fabric Fair. “We’re grateful to our partners at OIA, our sponsors and every exhibitor and attendee who made this edition a success.”
About Outdoor Industry Association
Based in Boulder, Colo., with offices in Washington, D.C., Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) is a catalyst for meaningful change. A member-based collective, OIA is a passionate group of business leaders, climate experts, policy makers and outdoor enthusiasts committed to sustainable economic growth while protecting — and growing access to — the benefits of the outdoors for everyone. For more than 30 years, OIA has catalyzed a thriving outdoor industry by supporting the success of every member company across four critically aligned areas: market research, sustainability, government affairs, and inclusive participation. OIA delivers success for its members through education, events, and business services in the form of solutions and strategies, consultation, collaboration, and opportunities for collective action. For more information, visit outdoorindustry.org.
