Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics, to be held from March 14 to 16, 2018, will showcase premium wool fabrics. The Premium Wool Zone will house mills from the UK, Italy, France, Peru and elsewhere. The Italy Pavilion will include a number of quality wool suppliers. Rounding out the sourcing options, and adding further quality and price variety, are the 180-plus domestic wool suppliers.

Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics will feature some 3,300 exhibitors from around 20 countries covering all apparel fabrics and accessories product groups. Much of the demand for high-end wool at the fair comes from Chinese buyers thanks to growing affluence in the country. China accounts for over 70 per cent of Australian wool exports. While 15 to 20 years ago most wool imported by China was re-exported, nowadays around 60 per cent is used to produce garments for the domestic market.

While most collections in the Premium Wool Zone will emphasise on the brands’ heritage and tradition, like Holland & Sherry, some will be introducing new or updated collections. Dugdale Bros & Co refreshed its Royal Classic superfine Australian merino wool collection last year for the first time since 1987, adding around 30 patterns drawn directly from its original archive. Abraham Moon & Sons will showcase new fabrics at the fair, which take in categories of classic, casual and contemporary, with a unique use of worsted, linen and cashmere combinations.