Ms Wen continued, “It is also apparent that sustainability has and will, remain at the forefront of the industry while environmental protection continues to be a pressing issue for the fashion world and amidst global societies. Therefore, fairgoers appreciated the extra focus placed on this issue, which was mirrored by the numerous sustainable products in high-demand among visitors. Our concentration on sustainability is reinforced by our wider Texpertise Network goals to accelerate innovation and change within the textile sector to advance the UN’s Decade of Action and help deliver the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030,” she concluded.
In the international halls, there were significant increases in exhibitors among the product zones reflecting the strong recovery in the industry, including a square metre growth of 115% in the overseas Accessories Vision zone, 70% in the Functional Lab and 54% in the Premium Wool Zone. Meanwhile, the Korea and Taiwan pavilions increased by over 100%, while the Japan Pavilion grew by 75%. Almost all of the fair’s group pavilions from the likes of DuPont, Hyosung Group, The Lenzing Satellite and The LYCRA Company also increased their exhibitor numbers, expanding sourcing options for buyers.
Fair promotes a more sustainable apparel textile industry
Over the years, Intertextile has placed increasing focus on sustainability issues and solutions for aneco-friendlier industry. This edition was no exception, with even more exhibitors showcasing sustainable products and even more fringe programme activities dedicated to the issue. At the All About Sustainability zone, the ecoBoutique hosted a special designated area to display sustainable outfits, whilst in the domestic area, visitors could explore the Sustainable Fashion Zone display and Sustainability Trend Forum.
Some eco-friendly products on show included the Naia™ Renew cellulose fibres made from sustainably sourced wood pulp and recycled plastic waste by Eastman Chemical Co Ltd and Waste2Wear’s fully transparent and traceable materials made from plastic bottles from the ocean. Biodegradable, recycled and organic fabrics were also on display from BYR International and Cotton Council International, among many others.
Meanwhile, sustainability was also one of the four key themes of the fringe programme and included a ‘Make Sustainable Fashion Accessible to Everyone’ forum, along with a series of seminars covering sustainable processes, products, strategies, circular economy, carbon neutrality and more. This dominance of sustainability at the fair sends a clear message about the efforts being made by the industry to work towards a more environmentally friendly future.
Exhibitors’ experiences
“Our main products are recycled denim fabrics made from sustainable processes. These products are already popular in Europe and the US but we have seen that Chinese brands are also willing to pay for these high-quality fabrics, which is why we have brought them to the fair. So far, we have been in contact with many customers including independent designers and e-commerce stores that are looking for something new and different.”
Mr Anson Su, Sales Agent, BossaTicaretVe Sanayi Isletmeleri TAS, Turkey
“We participate in Intertextile Apparel regularly and like the opportunity to actively learn about the changes in the domestic market. After all, the fastest growing market in the world is China, so I think overseas suppliers will continue to meet new customers and increase their exploration and investments in the textiles sector here.”
Ms Mona Liu, Product Manager, Alumo AG, Switzerland
“We join Intertextile in order to meet new customers, particularly designer and high-end brands. Each edition we get to meet a lot of existing and new customers, around 40-50% are new. The visitor flow has been good this edition and yesterday we had 20 new customers place orders, which is better than we expected. Overall, I think prospects in China’s market are positive, particularly for the textile printing industry, as more Chinese consumers pursue individuality through their fashion choices. ”
Ms Eileen Gleeson, Creative Director, Design Union, UK
Visitors’ feedback
“This time at the fair, besides looking for fabrics for lingerie and shirts, I was also looking for the latest trends. I visit the fair every year because Intertextile is a large-scale and comprehensive fair with both product and trend displays. Although we are a lingerie company, we also have needs for outerwear, so the fair is like a one-stop platform for big trading businesses like us. Our company is also looking for suppliers that offer sustainable and recycled materials, to help us develop our products.”
Ms Lydia Wang, Director of Product Department, Zhejiang Merrige Health Technology Co Ltd, China
“I am sourcing for functional fabrics and there are so many options to choose from, it’s really exciting. The fair is a very efficient sourcing platform, because I can find all the suppliers I need here, in one place. Our brand is also choosing to use sustainable products because this is an issue that is important to us. Looking ahead, I’m definitely optimistic about the Chinese market, as there’s more innovation and more developments in the industry happening here than ever before.”
Ms Eva Nixon Wang, Co-Founder, Nuvelle, China
Senior General Manager of Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, Ms Wendy Wen commented following the fair, “We have been extremely pleased to welcome more of the global industry at this Autumn Edition of Intertextile Apparel. Notably, SalonEurope including the Made in Germany area and Milano Unica Pavilion, were greatly received by domestic buyers, with the latter returning for the first time since the pandemic. Together with Asian country and region pavilions, and other international companies, onsite reports from these exhibitors cemented the continued potential for overseas brands in the Chinese market and showed a clear sourcing demand for new, innovative products among Chinese buyers and consumers. This is accompanied by an overwhelming optimism for future prospects in the growing market. Exhibitors also noted that the vast majority of visitors were serious buyers with high purchasing power.”
