The Northwest Materials Show 2026
Event Date
September 2–3, 2026
Location
Portland, OR
About This Show
AI-drafted summaryThe NW Materials Show (Northwest Materials Show) is a business-to-business sourcing event that connects materials and components suppliers with apparel and footwear manufacturers. American Events, Inc. is a premier events management company whose mission is to connect materials and components suppliers from around the world directly to apparel and footwear manufacturers. Held at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Oregon, the show serves the Pacific Northwest's concentration of footwear and apparel brands and their design, development, and sourcing teams.
Over two days, buyers, designers, product developers, and sourcing professionals walk the exhibit floor to review textiles, trims, components, and related materials directly from vendors. The Materials Show has grown into a major materials and networking resource, hosting hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of attendees.
The show is worth attending for anyone in the sewn products supply chain who wants face-to-face access to a broad range of suppliers in one place, combined with structured networking. Its Portland location places it at the heart of the region's footwear and apparel industry, making it a practical stop for development and sourcing teams.
Show Highlights
- Two-day exhibit floor of materials, components, and trims for apparel and footwear
- Direct, face-to-face sourcing between suppliers and manufacturer buyers/developers
- Evening Reception with food, drinks, and networking on the first show day
- Complimentary Coffee & Tea service each morning and Lunch midday
- Held at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland's Lloyd District
The published daily schedule includes show hours of 9:00 AM–5:00 PM on day one and 9:00 AM–4:00 PM on day two, with coffee and tea from 8:00–10:00 AM, lunch from 12:00–1:00 PM, and an evening reception from 5:00–7:00 PM on the opening day.
Registration
Registration is handled online through the organizer's website. Prospective exhibitors complete the Exhibitor Registration Form, while buyers and brand representatives use the Visitor Registration Form; a separate form is available for non-exhibiting visiting suppliers. Interested parties should register in advance through americanevents.com ahead of the show dates.
History
Hisham Muhareb, a former materials manager at Nike during the early 1990s, and his wife Kari Muhareb, grew The Materials Show out of what began in the 1980s and early 90s as the Nike vendor fair and a vendor-driven mini show, the NW Fabric Fair. Looking to expand on these two shows, the Muharebs formed American Events, Inc., which, in 1995, became the official organizer of Nike's semi-annual vendor fair. The NW Apparel and Footwear Materials Show soon was born and was an immediate success. American Events, Inc. went on to become the official Adidas and New Balance vendor fair organizer. Since then, The Materials Show has grown into a major materials and networking resource, hosting hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of attendees. In 2005, American Events, Inc. expanded to include a second Materials Show on the East Coast, the NE Materials Show, which serves manufacturers in the Boston, Massachusetts area.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is the NW Materials Show 2026?
The NW Materials Show takes place September 2 and 3, 2026, at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Oregon.
Who should attend the NW Materials Show?
The show is designed for apparel and footwear manufacturers, along with their designers, product developers, and sourcing teams, who come to source directly from materials and components suppliers.
How do I register for the show?
Registration is done online through americanevents.com. Suppliers use the Exhibitor Registration Form, while buyers and brand representatives use the Visitor Registration Form; a separate form is available for non-exhibiting visiting suppliers.
Who organizes the NW Materials Show?
The show is produced by American Events, Inc., an events management company founded by Hisham and Kari Muhareb that has organized the Materials Show since 1995 and also runs the NE Materials Show near Boston.
What are the parking and transit options at the venue?
The Oregon Convention Center has an 800-space underground garage with entrances on NE Lloyd Blvd (P1) and NE First Avenue (P2), plus nearby metered and private lots. It sits directly at a MAX light rail stop served by the Red, Green, and Blue lines, is eight miles from Portland International Airport, and is served by the Portland Streetcar and TriMet Bus Line 6.
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