With strong business results and a 17% increase in international visitors from spring, the much-anticipated Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Autumn Edition successfully wrapped up last week.

Nearly 4,000 exhibitors from 27 countries and regions welcomed 95,000 buyers from 117 countries and regions, underscoring the fair’s continued international reach. Digitalisation, sustainability and functional fashion, pillars that are currently redefining the industry, emerged as dominant themes across the fairground - whether it be biodegradable raw materials, or the first-to-market artificial intelligence system. This gave buyers a comprehensive sourcing experience, supplemented by over 40 seminars and forums and the concurrent Yarn Expo Autumn.

As the leading event of its kind in the region, Intertextile Shanghai is a crucial platform for industry to keep abreast of the market trends and technology and for business exchange

Ms Wilmet Shea, General Manager of Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, reflected positively on the fair’s outcome, stating: “This edition has served as fertile ground for business, with participants universally expressing a renewed sense of optimism about the prospects in the China market. The fair continues to be not just an event, but a cornerstone to the global textile market, a meeting point where business and innovation intersect. We’ve seen an influx of discerning, quality-orientated buyers from around the world, confirming that our exhibitors are not just meeting market demand, but shaping it.”

As the leading event of its kind in the region, Intertextile Shanghai is a crucial platform for industry to keep abreast of the market trends and technology and for business exchange. One case in point was the use of the AI-based Interactive Design Assistant for Fashion (AiDA) to augment this year’s Intertextile Directions Trend Forum. AiDLab’s innovation took Contradiction a few steps towards the future and created a wide range of virtual outfits based on the on-trend fabrics submitted.

Broad spectrum of exhibitors

Showcasing unique highlights at every edition, Intertextile Apparel repetitively attracts international and domestic exhibitors and buyers, with crowded booths in evidence throughout the three days this autumn. The broad spectrum of exhibitors, hailing from countries such as Belgium, France, Hong Kong China, Italy, India, Japan, Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan China, and the UK, among others, was a significant draw for buyers. Group pavilions were led by industry powerhouses such as Ecocert, Hyosung, Korean Textile Center, Lenzing, Lycra, Oeko-Tex and Sorona, further enriching the event's international diversity.

“Buyer feedback, especially relating to increased product variety and sustainable options, has been excellent. This level of global diversity, particularly at a fair focused on apparel fabrics, is difficult to find elsewhere. It underscores the fair’s crucial role in continuing to propel the industry forward,” added Ms Shea.

A number of companies used the fair as a platform to launch new products, such as Lenzing expanding its Refibra technology to its Ecovero branded viscose, a move that will increase its products’ post-consumer fibre content. Other notable debuts included Lycra showcasing three new branded fibres; Unifi highlighting its Textile Takeback initiative; Guangdong DC Button’s plant-based degradable button series; and Yantai Jihe Import & Export’s Türkiye flocked denim fabrics, new to the Chinese market.

With the recently launched ‘Econogy’, the combination of economy and ecology, sustainability is set to make a lasting impact on Messe Frankfurt’s Texpertise Network. Intertextile Apparel showed its merits – from the All About Sustainability zone to the fair’s multiple eco-focused fringe events. Across categories, exhibitors, visitors, and speakers left the fairground satisfied with a productive interval of in-person business.

Quality and diversity of buyers

“Intertextile Apparel is Asia's largest trade fair, with high internationality and a strong influence in the industry. The organisers did a very good job in gathering professional, good quality buyers. There is simply no other trade fair that can replace Intertextile Apparel. We were one of the early birds regarding sustainability testing for textiles. We are very happy that more consumers are requesting transparency, resulting in more companies increasing their sustainability efforts,” Said Ms Rinoa Zong, Marketing Manager, Testex (Shanghai) Textile Testing Co Ltd (All About Sustainability).

“Given its wide industry recognition, Intertextile Apparel has always been our first choice to promote in Asia. This year, we are using this platform to present our recycled brand REPREVE, the REPREVE+ functional yarn, and Textile Takeback – our new textile recycling concept for customers. The fair is also the right place to learn more about the market and trends and explore new customer sources. We have gained many business opportunities here,” remarked Ms Luka Yuan, Brand Sales & Marketing Director, Unifi Textiles (Suzhou) Co Ltd (Functional Lab)

Increasingly sustainable and innovative textiles

“I really appreciate attending this fair after a gap of almost four years. We’ve been very excited to meet all our vendor partners, as well as some new suppliers. We were mainly looking for sustainable products, that’s our key focused area. Based on the first two days here, I am confident that we will find some new and interesting sustainable products, such as those derived from ocean plastic and recycled textile waste,” commented Mr Gulshan Kumar, General Manager, Taiwan LLO, lululemon

Inspiring attendees with forward-thinking industry trends

“We hope to promote our innovations through trade fairs such as Intertextile Apparel, which is one of the industry’s biggest, and well-attended by many global fabric and garment manufacturers, testing labs, and brands – our target customers. This is a good platform to increase our industry recognition. The foot traffic was really good, and we received positive feedback onsite, with many customers looking for AI applications to assist fashion design and fabric inspection. Visitors saw our Trend Forum display and came to our booth to discuss further,” concluded Mr Barry Tai, Senior Manager of Business Development team, AiDLab.

Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Autumn Edition 2023 is co-organised by Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd; the Sub-Council of Textile Industry, CCPIT; and the China Textile Information Centre. It took place alongside Yarn Expo Autumn, CHIC and PH Value from 28 – 30 August at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai).

Upcoming shows

- Intertextile Shenzhen Apparel Fabrics / Yarn Expo Shenzhen

6 – 8 November 2023, Shenzhen

- Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Spring Edition / Yarn Expo Spring

6 – 8 March 2024, Shanghai

www.intertextileapparel.com