More than 11,000 trade buyers attended the Intertextile Pavilion at Shenzhen nearly a 70% rise over 2007. The show, a feature of the Shenzhen International Apparel Fair, ran 10 -12 July 2008 at the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Centre and featured 230 suppliers in 8,500 sqm of trade space.

Exhibitors, including many ladieswear producers from around Asia, said the fair was better than they expected for breaking into the Chinese market. "We organised fabric wholesalers from Japan for this because the domestic market in Japan has reached its capacity.

This event attracts big brands from China and designers from Hong Kong who are looking for high-quality and expensive fabrics," said Ms Feng Xiao, of Tokyo Textile Fabrics Wholesaler's Association, Japan, which focuses on ladieswear. "Just like in previous years, we achieved good feedback from the show."

"Intertextile Shenzhen Pavilion helps us reach the Chinese and Hong Kong markets. Many Chinese brands and retailers came to our stand and they are willing to spend more on high-quality products.

For sure, we will join again next year," said Mr Cody Choi, Division Director of Shinhwa Global Textile, Korea, a fabric mill for ladieswear fabrics.

Other exhibitors were pleased with the show's internationality. "This is our first time to exhibit at the Intertextile Pavilion and the result is beyond our expectations," said Mr Toshiro Isogai, General Manager of Takisada-Osaka, Japan.

"I have reached lots of manufacturers or trading companies that can export our products to the U.S., Europe or Australia. We are very happy with the result and hope to come back next year."

The show has built a reputation as a convenient and important sourcing destination for trade buyers visiting Hong Kong Fashion Week or from factories in Guangdong - China's garment manufacturing heart.

For example, Ms Elena Parad, a buyer from Parad in Moscow, Russia, visited the fair after a stop in Hong Kong for fashion week and a visit to one of her suppliers' factories. "This show is conveniently located and the timing is good for me," she said.

Ms Rebecka Lundin, a buyer based in Hong Kong for a large European retailer agreed. "It's convenient to meet new Asian suppliers, which we're always looking for. I'm glad I came, it was worth visiting."

"The exhibition is well organised," added trade buyer Ms Zhang Xiao Qin, of Red Seal, France. "I came to source silk products and found them to be very high quality. This show offers exactly what I want."

The event was also attractive as part of the Shenzhen International Apparel Fair which featured The 8th China (Shenzhen) International Brand Clothing & Accessories Fair and 2008 Shenzhen International Maternity and Clothing Expo.

Exhibitors to those segments found Intertextile Pavilion a useful sourcing destination under the same roof.

"It is effective to have the three shows at the same time because as a garment and garment printing manufacturer, we are both exhibitor and buyer at these events." Mr Chen Chaun Min, General Manager, Ao Hua Garment Printing Co, China.

Intertextile's exhibitors echoed that point. "It's a good idea to hold the three concurrent events because the other exhibitors are at the same time our buyers.

This show is an important trade platform for us," said Ms Ivy Chang, with wedding fabric manufacturer Rorica Textile from Taiwan.