Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics, a leading trade fair and a comprehensive learning platform, will see forum and series of panel discussions added to the show this edition, which takes place from 13-15 October at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai.

The show responds to the rapidly growing demand for digital textile printing, preparing to debut Digital Printing Forum and other educational events. The apparel fabrics and accessories industry’s leading trade fair will feature some 4,000 exhibitors from around 30 countries and regions, organisers report.

Print and pattern

The forum will be hosted by experts from digital printing machinery companies and digital printing fabrics suppliers such as Digital Textile Solution, Konica Minolta, Kornit Digital Ltd and more.

A representative from the UK department store Liberty London will host a seminar titled Liberty Style: Print and pattern in Fashion from 1875 to Modern Day. Participants will learn about the latest technology developments, digital textile printing market trends as well as print and pattern fashion trends.

Panel discussions

Another new feature at the fair is a series of panel discussions held by organisations from a range of industry sectors. Five speakers and topics currently confirmed include:

• Americas Apparel Producers' Network: Activewear – the impact of this hot ‘fashion’ trend in the US
• CELC European Flax: Flax & linen – the fibre of the future
• HKRITA: New materials for better living
• Redress: E-Commerce – an exciting opportunity for sustainable fashion?
• Textile Clothing Footwear Leather Resource Centre of West Australia: Designers Insights: Fibres, colours, inspiration and innovation

Trend forum

Carrying on the fair’s tradition of providing the latest fashion information, the Autumn / Winter 2016-17 international trends envisioned by the Directions Trend Committee will be revealed in the Intertextile Directions Trend Forum.

The committee is comprised of top trends forecasters from the NellyRodi Agency (France), Elementi Moda (Italy), Doneger Creative Services (USA) as well as Ms Sachiko Inoue (Japan). Elementi Moda has designed the forum concept based on three themes: Make (rural – treasure), Create (bespoke – lyrical), and Innovate (cosmos – cyber).

To help buyers understand the trends on display in more detail, Ornella Bignami, Creative Director of Elementi Moda, will conduct three Trend Tour sessions during the first two days of the fair to further demonstrate the seasonal trend stories.

Seminars

In addition to the Trend Forum, various seminars in different themes will be held during the fair to offer more in-depth information about the upcoming trends.

Experts from the fashion industry have been invited to share the latest updates on fashion trends, including Massimo Carminati, Trend & Style Director of Peclers Paris, who will share the A/W 16-17 women’s fashion trends to inspire and guide the product innovation of next season’s ladieswear.

As well as the trend tours, Ms Bignami will also hold a seminar to elaborate on next season’s colour and fabric directions in more detail.

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