Sustainable and athleisure products will continue to be the dominant new trends for the fashion and apparel industry at the upcoming Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics exhibition, Spring Edition. Taking place from 14 – 16 April, buyers in Shanghai will be able to find the latest products that are driving and thriving off the developments in the market.
Green fabrics, fibres and solutions can be found in the All about Sustainability zone, as well as across all product group zones, such as Beyond Denim, whilst high-performance fabrics for sports and outdoor wear will be on display at the Functional Lab.
According to a survey carried out by the US Cotton Trust Protocol in the UK and US among 1,000 fashion brands and retailers, 69 percent of participants believe that the pandemic has emphasised the importance of environmentally friendly products to customers. Meanwhile, 61 percent also note that there has been an increased demand for sustainable products among consumers.
This movement is echoed in China, as the government pushes to implement a sustainably-led growth model in the apparel industry, centered upon circular economy practices and innovative solutions to repurpose recycled materials. Water and pollution reduction are also a focus for developing a more green industry in the country.
At Intertextile, the dedicated all about Sustainability zone focuses on green products and solutions in the industry. A returning exhibitor to the zone, TESTEX AG from Switzerland, is an independent, accredited and internationally recognised testing laboratory. TESTEX tests and certifies textiles and leather goods in line with stringent international regulations and standards. As a member institute of the Oeko-Tex Association, TESTEX is its official representative on five continents. Outside the zone, other sustainable suppliers can be found, to meet the market demand. Zhangjiangang Vcare Textile Co Ltd, China will display their featured recycled polyester Sherpa and fur products that hold the Global Recycled Standard 4.0 certificate. They can cater to small-batch orders and personal customizations.
Meanwhile, athleisure that enhances efficiency and utilizes new technology is also making waves in the Chinese market. In particular, domestic brands have reported increased demand with sportswear retailer Li-Ning seeing a year-on-year growth of 37.7 percent during the busy ‘singles day’ shopping period. Outdoor down jacket brand Bosideng also grew sales by 53 percent in the same year. Consumer habits inclining towards healthier and more active lifestyles are set to continually increase the potential for functional fabrics. Some key exhibitors of the Functional Lab zone at Intertextile are as follows:
Ascend Performance Materials, USA: they will launch their Acteev Performance Textiles that use natural zinc ions embedded into the material, to enable it to with stand wear, wash and heavy use. And unlike antimicrobial technology that uses coatings, Acteev requires no finishing step.
Henglun Textile Vietnam Co Ltd, Vietnam: the company works with partners such as Texhong, Toray, Lenzing and Hyosung to improve technological innovations. They will display a series of new, eco-friendly, comfortable and fashionable high-ends fabrics including their low-carbon & zero carbon series, anti-bacterial & anti-virus organic series, super soft series and cooling series, among others.
The International zone at the upcoming fair will be housed in hall 5.1, with exhibitors categorised by product groups. Domestic exhibitors will be allocated by product end-use in halls 1.1, 5.1, 6.1, 7.1 & 8.1, whilst the Beyond Denim Zone can be found in hall 8.1.
With years of expertise, Messe Frankfurt has been a pioneer for promoting and developing sustainable initiatives through trade fairs in the textile sector. At Intertextile, the All about Sustainability zone was first introduced back in 2013, whilst the eco leaf indication in the visitor guide first appeared in 2016, demonstrating the early identification of the importance of a more eco-friendly industry.
Since 2019, Messe Frankfurt has been working with the Conscious Fashion Campaign and United Nations Office for Partnerships as part of the Texpertise Network and supports the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The goals will be presented gradually at global textile events in order to highlight the most pressing challenges facing the textile and fashion industry worldwide.
Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Spring Edition 2022 will be held concurrently with the Spring Edition of Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles, Yarn Expo Spring, CHIC and PH Value from 14 – 16 April at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai). The fair is co-organised by Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd; the Sub-Council of Textile Industry, CCPIT; and the China Textile Information Centre.
