This week’s Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Autumn Edition will host 4,479 exhibitors from 33 countries and regions, showcasing their latest products. High visitor footfall is anticipated at the industry’s leading trade fair, which has an earlier date this year, running from 27-29 September. The change of date has been well received by exhibitors looking to take advantage of the earlier Autumn/Winter sourcing season, organisers report.

The fair will cover 240,000 sqm and, due to the unavailability of three halls at the National Exhibition and Convention Center, will have some hall reallocation with the International Halls now located in halls 4.1 and 5.1.

Unparalleled sourcing

For visitors looking for the industry’s latest apparel textile innovations, one particular must-see is Functional Lab. The product zone has more than double the exhibitor numbers than the 2017 Autumn Edition and will feature the innovative Taiwan Pavilion along with pavilions from Invista and Hyosung, as well as an events space. Functional Lab, along with other display areas and product zones, will present a curated collection of leading products, ideal for visitors who want to streamline their sourcing process.

Another way for visitors to fast-track their sourcing experience at the fair is the Trend Forum, which will feature product samples from exhibitors across the fair. Every sample is handpicked to complement three Intertextile Directions Autumn/Winter 2019-20 trends, developed by global trend experts from Milan, New York, Paris and Tokyo.

“Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics is widely regarded as a prime platform to find and meet new business partners in the textile industry, and this is supported by the fair’s Business Matching Programme, which has already scheduled over 130 tailor-made meetings between buyers and suppliers,” organisers say.

Fringe programme

The fair’s three-day fringe programme is expected to draw many crowds, with 35 seminars and four panel discussions to delve into the latest market discussions and trends. Highlights include FutureCast: The State of the Consumer, the first Consumer & Lifestyle Trend theme.

This is the first time the fair will present the links between consumer and lifestyle trends and the textiles industry, and will include a video area, four talks and a seminar by the Doneger Group. Other highlighted events include a panel discussion on the rise of Africa’s textile industry, and seminars on trend analysis.

“A huge range of leading products from all over the world, detailed trend insights and a comprehensive fringe programme: with all this on offer, it’s no surprise that Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics is one of the industry’s leading shows. This year’s Autumn Edition looks promising as another successful fair that will bring exciting new partnerships, and maintain strong relationships, within the apparel textile industry,” organisers conclude.

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