"Cashmere is widely acknowledged as one of the most luxurious fabrics available. Exceptionally soft, but hard wearing too. Yet, although many in the garment and textile industries know of it, they know very little about it. That is about to change."

So say the confident organisers of Cashmere World, Hong Kong based leading exhibitions organiser UBM Asia.

Cashmere World (CW) is a trade exhibition for the whole cashmere industry. It covers the entire supply chain, from raw material, yarn, to finished products for the retail trade such as scarves and other lifestyle and home accessories.

Enormous potential

According to UBM the event will bring together almost all the major cashmere suppliers and, at the same time aim to ‘educate' potential buyers and users of cashmere such as designers and specifiers. It also aims to position cashmere as one of the most popular luxury products available by upgrading quality, creative design and positioning to fashion trends. The potential is enormous," a UBM spokesperson said, adding:

"For example, the China Chamber of Commerce reports that exports in the first half of 2011 of cashmere and cashmere finished products rose 37% and 34% respectively. There are buyers aplenty and they include: France, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Japan, Pakistan, Turkey, the UK and US."

60% more visitors expected

To cater for the enthusiasm generated by CW's powerful launch last year, the forthcoming 2011 event will be 20% larger in terms of exhibition space. A massive 60% increase in exhibitor numbers is expected and the show is strongly supported by local government bodies in the major production and manufacturing bases of Inner Mongolia, Qinghai, Tongxiang, with Inner Mongolia and Qinghai both confirming participating with their own pavilions.

Italy, a leader in cashmere manufacture, will support a pavilion which will include exhibitors such as Annalisa Bucci Cashmere, Chianti Cashmere, Galassia Srl, and Maglier D'Arte di Fiorella Rossi.

According to UBM, encouragingly, CW is proving to be well supported by the wider cashmere industry, fashion designers and buying agents. High quality buyers from around the world have registered on-line to attend.

Matchmaking with buyers

In addition, the organisers have invited senior buyers of department stores, business associations, franchisees, agents and retailers to participate in a series of one-on-one ‘matchmaking' services and conferences. The China Commerce Association for General Merchandise (CCAGM) is one of the supporting organisers of the exhibition and will invite members, such as sourcing managers of department and chain stores to visit the show.

Last year also witnessed the introduction of the ‘Cashmere World Colours Trends'. It will be back again this year and will launch the colours trending for 2012/2013. It consists of four styles: Energy, Dreaming, Escape and Pleasure.

There will be a comprehensive list of topics discussed during the show. These will include: ‘Cashmere Quality Forum'; ‘Sino-Italian Exchange Seminar on the Cashmere Industry', and ‘Sustainability: Use Central Asia as an Example ....to improve cashmere quality'. Confirmed speakers are Tian Hong, Director, CFNA; Matthew Wilshire from the US Federal Trade Commission; Francis Yuk of WRAP; Gianpietro Veronese, Fashion Marketing Lecturer of Raffles Design Institute; Mr. Abdul Basir Hotak, President, Herati Cashmere and Skin Processing Plant (HSC) from Afghanistan and Ms. Carol Kerven, Odessa Centre Ltd. from the UK.

Cashmere Quality Forum

"Although CW has already a wide range and variety of focused issues one in particular will be in the minds of many present. This is the matter of establishing benchmarks of international standard. There is an underlying concern that the high repute in which cashmere is held throughout the garment and apparel industry might be tarnished by the use of lower quality or ‘diluted' cashmere," UBM said in a statement.

"The ‘Cashmere Quality Forum' - Establishing Global Quality Standards for Cashmere, will deal with precisely this matter."

"Cashmere is not unique in this respect. Other materials and fabrics are facing similar issues: maintaining standards while, at the same time, ensuring future supplies through implementing a long-term process of sustainability," UBM said.

Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP) has been invited to become a supporting organisation of the exhibition, by leading the industry to explore the possible solution of quality analysis, production technology and quality upgrade.

Cashmere World 2011 will run from 24-26th October, 2011, in the China National Convention Center Beijing. It is co-organised by UBM, and China Chamber of Commerce of Import & Export of Foodstuffs, Native Produce & Animal By-Products which is under the direct jurisdiction of the Ministry of Commerce in China.

The organisers say they have worked to establish a premier trade event for the global cashmere industry - to explore, develop and penetrate the huge potential of cashmere while, simultaneously, ensuring a regular supply of raw material for the future.

Factory visits

Cashmere is available from a very limited geographical area and UBM says many in the industry have expressed interest in visiting manufacturing sites. To let buyers understand more about cashmere manufacture in China, factory tours have been arranged during the days after the fair, to visit cashmere markets, industrial parks and production premises around Shanghai, and Qinghe in Hebei province.