"The recently concluded Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics-Autumn Edition 2016 received praises from participants and visitors alike on the quality and internationality of the fair’s 22nd edition. After years of consecutive growth in the number of exhibitors, the 2016 show concluded similar in size as last year. 

The recently concluded Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics-Autumn Edition 2016 received praises from participants and visitors alike on the quality and internationality of the fair’s 22nd edition. After years of consecutive growth in the number of exhibitors, the 2016 show concluded similar in size as last year. The 4,553 exhibitors from 29 countries & regions (2015: 4,642, 29 countries & regions) at this year’s fair attracted over 73,000 buyers from 90 countries and regions (2015: 66,256, 97 countries and regions), a roughly 10 per cent increase and a number, which includes those registered for concurrent Yarn Expo Autumn, PH Value and CHIC fairs, and attended Intertextile Shanghai as well. The gross area of the fair grew slightly to 260,000 sq mt (2015: 228,000).

“For the last few years, even though Intertextile Shanghai has continued to grow in size, our priority has been to focus on the quality of exhibitors and buyers that participate here to ensure it remains the global industry’s leading business event every March and October,” says Wendy Wen, Senior General Manager of Messe Frankfurt (HK) said at the conclusion of the show. “While we are aware that the current economic conditions are creating challenges in some sectors of the industry, we are confident that with the unrivalled range, internationality and quality of exhibitors here, this fair is increasingly viewed as the leading event where quality trade buyers come to conduct business, regardless of the prevailing economic conditions.”

Exhibitors, visitors return satisfied

Both new and returning exhibitors reflected this sentiment, including Third Office from Japan, a first-time participant in the fair’s Beyond Denim area. “During the fair, we met many high-quality buyers,” John Xu from the company’s Fabric Department explained. “Our priority is not the quantity of the buyers but the quality, so Intertextile Shanghai is a very effective trade platform for this, and it’s definitely the most influential one in Asia.” Xu also touched on the fair’s global nature. “Being in the high-potential Chinese market, Intertextile Shanghai creates a lot of valuable new business opportunities that other fairs cannot. Apart from local buyers, we also had visitors from the buying offices of overseas brands and manufacturers, and even from an existing customer from Japan who placed an order on the spot!”

Long-term exhibitors and leading industry brands such as DuPont also use the fair as a platform to connect with the industry. “Intertextile has been an important platform for us in the Asia Pacific region for a number of years. As we expand more into wearable technology area, this will be the best place for us to reach out and to connect with the market,” said Gordon Tseng, AP Regional Business Development Manager, Wearable Segment, DuPont Photovoltaic & Advance Materials.

While exhibitors appreciated the diversity and quality of buyers to the fair, conversely these same buyers valued Intertextile Shanghai for the ability to find quality exhibitors covering the entire supply chain under one roof. “Every time we come to this fair, we find old suppliers we have had success with, and new vendors as well. The quality of these suppliers is what brings us back again and again,” commented Dustin Rhodes from Pro Look Sports, US. Italian buyer Salvatore Parasuco, President & Creative Director of Parasuco Jeans says “We come to this show because we can see a lot of what’s available from China as well as many other countries. You can find a lot of interesting products and meet a lot of good vendors here. And through the various country pavilions here, we get to see what’s going on around the world. We can do a lot of research in this one place and accomplish a lot here.”

Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Autumn Edition 2016 was co-organised by Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd; the Sub-Council of Textile Industry, CCPIT and the China Textile Information Centre. The next Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics will be the Spring Edition from March 15 – 17, 2017.