22 – 24 March 2007
Beijing
Intertextile Beijing is the No. 1 trade fair
for apparel fabrics and accessories manufacturers and suppliers
wanting to reach China's north and north-east region

Two new Australian Merino wool products have taken centre stage at October’s Intertextile Fabrics Fair in Shanghai, highlighting Australian Wool Innovation Limited’s (AWI) collaboration with key Chinese manufacturers.

The launch of the two textile innovations, Merino Travel and Merino Retro, builds on the strong reputation Australian Merino wool products have established in the fast-growing Chinese market.

Intertextile is one of the leading apparel fabric trade fairs in the world. For buyers, Intertextile is the annual textile and garment industry meeting point in Shanghai – for unsurpassed sourcing, networking and information gathering.

AWI Regional Manager Asia Mr Jimmy Jackson said a high level of interest was shown in the two new Merino products that fulfil demands of Chinese and international buyers looking for style, comfort and durability.

Merino Travel was created by AWI in partnership with the Ningbo Youngor Group - one the of the largest fabric and suit manufactures in China - to meet the needs of China’s growing business travel market.

The lightweight fabric, created to withstand the rigours of travel, is crease resistant and has natural stretch and anti-stain qualities.

The development of Merino Retro – a world-first textile with a special stonewash treatment technology to produce a fashionable washed-out look, was created by China's largest worsted enterprise, the Jiangsu Sunshine Group with the assistance of AWI.
 
Designed to appeal to today's trends, it provides a vintage look with the competitive edge of a modern fibre.

Mr Jackson said both Chinese companies had reported positive feedback from Japanese and Western European retailers with a particularly strong interest from US buyers.

Work would now be done in product development and if successful, orders taken for the northern hemisphere in the new year to prepare for a launch on the retail market it September.

"It's quite a radical move for the Chinese manufacturers who are used to producing traditional suit fabrics," he said. "They had not produced fabrics like this before and they were received better than they expected."

Mr Jackson said it was very important for AWI to establish direct business relationships with key organisations such as Youngor and Sunshine in the Chinese marketplace as Shanghai emerged as an international fashion capital.

"China is a constantly growing economy that purchases the majority of Australian wool," he said. "It is a hub for international brands to review products available and the quality today is astounding. To have AWI products at noted events such as Intertextile will assist AWI in achieving a higher demand for Australia Merino wool products."

Jiangsu Sunshine Group produces 30 million metres of worsted fabrics, 20 million metres of woollen and cashmere fabrics and 1.5 million suits each year for the domestic and export markets.

Younger, a popular brand in China, has had the largest share of the domestic market for its suits for the last three years. The 1.7 million suits it manufactures each year are sold in both domestic and international markets.

Mr Jackson said the partnerships with Chinese manufacturers would provide important opportunities for Australian woolgrowers.

"By working with Sunshine and Youngor we are able to offer buyers and manufacturers around the world Australian Merino wool alternatives which are high in quality, machine washable, light-weight, durable and fashionable," he said.

Intertextile 2006 attracted 52,265 visitors over the three days.