Wide range of fashionable accessories in Accessories halls

Functional fabrics are another featured highlight of the fair

In line with the latest demand in the apparel fabrics industry, Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics 2014 will feature the Beyond Denim hall with a revamped design and expanded scale. Functional fabrics and accessories suppliers will also take advantage of the surging domestic demand to introduce a wide range of products. This year’s fair will boast 15 halls, with over 3,800 international and domestic exhibitors featured across more than 170,000 sqm from 20 to 23 October 2014.

Following the success of last year’s denim zone, the newly designed and enlarged Beyond Denim hall (hall W5) at the 2014 edition will feature around 150 exhibitors from six countries and regions. In China, the latest denim products are increasingly popular as China’s expanding middle and upper classes follow Western fashion trends. As a result, this year’s denim area expands to an entire hall – a 25% increase in exhibition space compared to last year.

This situation presents exciting opportunities for overseas companies to take advantage of this lucrative market. And the new design of the hall – created by renowned French studio, the NellyRodi™ Agency – will attract more buyers to this area. Some of the highlights on display this year include examples of new wash innovations, the latest technologies, sustainable production practices and premium denim in Beyond Denim Forum.

The expanded hall gathers most of the leading domestic denim manufacturers, denim designers and marketing firms, as well as international denim fabric exhibitors. Textil Santanderina SA is an exhibitor from Spain that believes their high-end Spanish products will do well in the Chinese market. Their collection includes faded finishes, new digital prints inspired by nature and poetry, cotton/Lycra and 100% Tencel fabrics, and jacquard styles inspired by a Bohemian soul and the spirit of old cities that leads to rustic, textured, delicate and aged looks.

American & Efird is another well-known supplier from USA. They will introduce premium products following the hottest trends in the market for denim wear and active wear. According to the company, denim is a traditional ‘must-have’ item for consumers which, therefore, demands high quality threads to safeguard seam integrity. Their major products include corespun threads with NWT™ technology and textured threads which incorporate quality trims.

Wide range of fashionable accessories in Accessories halls

In addition to denim products, accessories and functional fabrics are also a highlighted product category this year. Over 550 domestic and international accessories suppliers will feature in two halls (E6 – E7), with both garment and fashion accessories on display. Buyers can find a wide range of exciting new accessories at the fair including a selection of zippers, buttons, lace & embroidery, linings / interlinings, threads, labels, hangtags, tape, appliqués / sequins / beads / rhinestones and fashion accessories. An Accessories Trend Forum will be located in hall E7 next to the overseas accessories zone displaying a variety of products reflecting the upcoming trends.

Esquel Enterprises Ltd is a well-established exhibitor from Hong Kong. Buttons, embroidered patches, hangers, labels, tape, polybags, eco-friendly trims and packaging are their featured products at the upcoming fair. They will offer a wide selection of eco-friendly trims. Their one-stop branding and packaging solutions provide buyers with flexible and effective solutions for the low-end, mid-range and high-end / luxury markets.

Functional fabrics are another featured highlight of the fair

Mirroring current trends in the textiles industry, functional fabrics and products are the other focus areas at the fair. The exhibitors taking part are looking to benefit from the increase in demand in China for functional fabrics and see the fair as the best way to do this. Various kinds of functional fabrics will be showcased, with properties such as thermo-regulation, moisture wicking, increased durability, elasticity, windproof and more. In the domestic market in particular, functional fabrics for sportswear, ladieswear and menswear are in high demand.

One of the exhibitors is Toyobo Co Ltd from Japan, which will highlight new types of CERAM (far infrared radiation) at the fair. CERAM has been sold in the Chinese market for decades and is well-known to many customers. Their showcased products contain new functions and focus on cleanliness and safety. Retailers and sports-related companies are the target buyers for this product.

Meanwhile, the Intertextile Directions Trend Forum will once again showcase the trends for autumn / winter 2015-16 in hall W1, and this year features special labelling for eco and functional fabrics and products to help buyers more easily identify these items.

Running concurrently with this fair are two other events: Yarn Expo Autumn (hall N4) and PH (halls N4 to N5) Value which are located within the same venue as Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics and take place over three days from 20 to 22 October.

Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics is co-organised by the Sub-Council of Textile Industry, CCPIT; Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd;and the China Textile Information Centre.