Organized from September 2-4, 2025, the Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Autumn Edition reaffirmed its status as an indispensable platform for major industry players.
Held at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai, the flagship fair welcomed over 100,000 visitors from 123 countries and regions, who networked with over 3,700 exhibitors from 26 countries and regions.
With China serving as the world’s largest manufacturing base, leading exporter, and second-largest consumer market, the event offered critical opportunities to gather market insights, discuss business, and explore the latest products and services across four main themes: fashion, functionality, sustainability, and innovation and digital transformation.
The show was held across nine halls spanning 240,000 sq m. Addressing the consumer demand for affordable, everyday clothing, the Essential Suits & Shirts zone made its debut. The exhibition also featured dedicated country and region pavilions from Hong Kong, India, Italy (Milano Unica), Japan, Korea, Pakistan, Taiwan, and the first-ever Türkiye Pavilion. Sustainability takes center stage
Econogy Hub
The Econogy Hub saw a 60 per cent increase in scale compared to the previous autumn edition. Its strong focus on sustainability, complemented by an open booth design, seminars, and display areas, served as a clear sourcing guide for eco-friendly materials.
A first-time exhibitor, Peelsphere showcased fabrics and bio-leather made from fruit waste and algae. Youyang Song, CEO, Peelsphere, noted, the Hub strongly aligns with our positioning and has connected us with our target customers. This fair has provided us with deep insights and strengthened our resolve to drive high-quality development.” Other new exhibitors with sustainable solutions included Chloris Biochem with sustainable dye solutions.
Focus on functional and digital innovation
The Functional Lab and the enhanced Innovation & Digital Solutions Zone highlighted new advancements shaping the future of textile production.
The Functional Lab featured new exhibitors including Cathay (HK) Biomaterial (bio-based fibers and polymers), Fibrant (nylon made from recycled waste like fishing nets and carpets), and Regina Miracle (high-tech lingerie, sportswear, and functional apparel).
In the Innovation & Digital Solutions Zone. exhibitors like AiDLab and Shima Seiki presented solutions such as AI-driven textile inspection technology and advanced design systems.
Highlighting the synergistic benefit of the zone, Prof Calvin Wong, CEO, Laboratory for Artificial Intelligence in Design (AiDLab), said, the number of visitors at this fair is much higher than before, and by placing our booth in the Innovation & Digital Solutions Zone, the synergy created with other technology companies brought us even more inquiries and opportunities for collaboration.
Fringe program and buyer sentiment
Featuring 37 seminars and nine themed forums, the fringe program offered critical industry insights. These events fused textile artistry with contemporary trends and unpacking the upcoming A/W 2026-27 vogues. Experts also discussed AI applications, smart manufacturing, and the role of advanced materials in functional textile production. Along with other displays like Bespoke Performance and The CUBE, the Intertextile Directions Trend Forum showcased over 900 on-trend and premium samples.
Buyer feedback emphasized the show's value as a consolidated platform for both sourcing and networking. Becky Godfrey-Faussett, Director, Snuggy Hoods, UK, stated, A key takeaway is the industry’s clear shift toward sustainability. It’s now a central theme across exhibitors, and aligning with eco-conscious partners is a growing priority for us. She also praised the fair for making it efficient to compare options and gather high-quality samples in one trip.
