Intertextile Shanghai, opportunity for textiles brands

28 Mar '19

3 min read

Pic: Messe Frankfurt

With a growing textiles market in China due to 'consumption upgrade' and diversified market demand, this Autumn's Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles, to be held during August 28 - 31 will provide great opportunity for overseas home textiles brands. The show will present more quality suppliers, contract business exhibitors and finished products for visitors.

Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles has long been attracting leading local and international brands to take advantage of this potential. Last August's fair gathered fabrics brand names including Enzo Degli Angiuoni Spa from Italy, JAB ANSTOETZ from Germany and Prestigious Textiles from the UK, domestic big names such as Beijing Yada and Beijing Euroart together with whole-home exhibitors like Coomo Living, Mirtos, Murray, Casaido and Lezai.

This year's show will continue to showcase a wide range of home textile items to match consumers' expectations.

The Contract Business concept received much recognition in the 2018 edition as around 16 per cent of visitors reported interest in contract business products. In order to facilitate buyers' sourcing process, contract business exhibitors will be highlighted this year at the fairground with clearer signage. There will also be a diverse range of events including a forum and display area that will help fairgoers to understand different contract textile products and the derived business opportunities.

Being Asia's leading trade platform, Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles offers a comprehensive range of home textiles and accessories. Apart from abundant decoration fabrics, finished products are receiving much attention in recent editions. As per the fair's visitor statistics, the interest towards finished home textile products has increased by around 10 per cent in the past four years.

"I am impressed that more exhibitors are using diverse finished products to present an overall impression. Compared to the companies showcasing fabrics alone, these suppliers are more attractive," Liu Yuan from Shenyan Space Design said at last Autumn fair.

Given this growing demand, more suppliers have decided to take advantage of the fair to showcase their finished products. Naturtex, Jaspa Herington, Silkland and Weihai HengTai Woolen Blanket are just a few of the confirmed exhibitors. Visitors can expect to source more finished products this edition, ranging from bedding products and carpets and rugs to finished curtains and more.

China now boasts around 33 million middle and upper class households, according to the Chinese government, using a more narrow definition of this group than usual that takes into account disposable income relative to the cost of living. The annual household income required to be considered in this group in first-tier cities is set at around $ 44,500 and above, while for other cities it is around $ 30,000 and above. Within the 33 million households, around 10 million are considered to have the strongest purchasing power for the home textiles sector as they have combined assets of around $ 450,000 or more, usually including their own home.

These well-educated consumers have different brand preferences, product expectations and consumption habits than previous generations, according to Wendy Wen, senior general manager of Messe Frankfurt (HK). "The greater emphasis on product quality, brands and a tailored experience from customers have fostered strong growth and new product offerings in the entire home decoration industry in China. With over 1,000 exhibitors and around 40,000 visitors under the same roof, Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles is the place to capitalise on this unprecedented growth of the Chinese middle and upper classes." (SV)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India

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