Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabric fair earns its position

13 Nov '08

5 min read

More than 49,000 people from 85 countries visited Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics, 20 - 23 October 2008 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre. The show has earned its position as a major trade destination in Asia and the world, said Ms Wendy Wen, Director of Trade Fairs for Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd.

"The show continued the success Intertextile Shanghai has enjoyed for the past 14 years. Despite economic concerns around the world, trade buyers still choose to come to this fair - one of the largest in the world for apparel textiles - to source fabrics and accessories and learn upcoming design trends. We are very pleased by the results."

More than 2,500 exhibitors were set in 115,000 sqm of trade space including an entire hall for accessories and two and a half for international suppliers. A highlight at this year's show was the organisation of the domestic Chinese halls by product end-use in categories such as shirting and suiting fabrics, ladieswear and denim.

Many international exhibitors were grouped into pavilions, including country and region pavilions from Germany, Japan, Korea, Italy, Pakistan, Portugal, Taiwan, Thailand and Turkey, and special group pavilions from fibre makers Invista, Lenzing, Dow and Hyosung, featuring their weaving mill customers to show the application of their special fibres.

"The show has so many product categories and fabrics, and exhibitors are not only grouped by product but by country. This makes it more convenient for product sourcing and saves lots of time," said Ms Connie Ho, a Fabric Manager with Designer Holdings Overseas of Hong Kong a Warnaco subsidiary. "It's also a good opportunity to get market and trend information. In this economy, trade shows are more important than ever because they are the best way to source products directly."

At the Italian pavilion, which featured a trend zone, visitors easily located the high quality textiles created by Italian mills. "Our products are expensive and very high quality. Buyers are willing to buy these products even in this economy because of our quality," said Ms Daniela Ronchetti, with Ratti, Italy. "This fair is an important source for good customers and the key channel to enter the Chinese market. We made many good contacts."

At the fibre pavilions by Invista, Lenzing, Dow and Hyosung, weaving mills displayed different applications for the fibres created by these companies. The effect helps raise awareness of the products and the mills using them. "Visitors don't come to see fibres, they come to see fabrics," said Ms Echo Mok, Asia Marketing Manager for Lenzing Fibers, which occupied 828 sqm and featured 37 fabric mills. "We present different applications for our products so customers can understand them better."

"It is a very good idea to set up group pavilions and to gather different mills in one area," said Ms Ayako Kuwahara, with Yancheng Body Fashion, a subsidiary of Triumph International.

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