Intertextile Shanghai attracts record-breaking visitors

16 Sep '09

6 min read

Asia's leading home textile trade fair, Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles 2009 ended with a high note on 27 August, which successfully attracted a record-breaking 36,854 trade visitors from 99 countries and regions. The remarkable increase of 13 percent in attendance reflected that the global market is leading the path to recovery.

With an exhibition space of 103,500 sqm, the fair featured 908 exhibitors from 24 countries and regions including special pavilions from Germany, Korea, Pakistan, Taiwan and Turkey, plus a brand bedding and towelling hall featuring major international and domestic brands such as B.Sousa, Casablanca, Konglong and Salsa.

New to the fair and located in the brand bedding and towelling hall, Ms Nurhan Nalbant from the German based Advansa was impressed with the quality of trade buyers. “We are delighted with the professionalism of the fair along with the volume and quality of the buyers it attracts.”

Ms Barbara Schmidt-Zock, Head of Economic Affairs for the Association of the German Home Textile Industry was equally thrilled with the positive response at the show. “Walking the nine halls of the fair, there was little evidence to suggest that the current economic downturn had impacted the development of China's home textile industry.”

Ms Schmidt-Zock further commented on the business at the fair. “Exhibitors appeared to be deeply engaged in talks with buyers most of the time. This trade fair is the optimum platform for European companies to showcase their high quality products which are highly demanded by the local market.”

Mr Anuj Sharma from Dicitex Décor, a leading upholstery fabric's supplier in India was also enthusiastic about the vibrant atmosphere of the event. “We have met many buyers who are looking for high quality fabrics because consumers nowadays are demanding more varieties of products with sophisticated design.”

Exhibitors unanimously praise this year's fair as best yet.
The 2009 fair drew a great deal of international and domestic buyers including delegations from the Middle East, Korea, regional department stores, as well as invited major buyers from Australia, Brazil, France, Korea, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Russia, and the UK. “We are glad to meet many potential Asian buyers. To me, this is the best home textiles fair ever in China, “said Mr Osman Nuri Canik, General Manager for Elvin Tekstil from the Turkish pavilion.

The flexible service and improving product's quality of Chinese suppliers are major attractions for overseas buyers.“Chinese suppliers have adapted really well to the changing market and most of them are able to produce in small volume at reasonable prices. In fact, I have increased our purchase of bed linens from Asian suppliers from 15 to 50 percent this year, “said Ms Patricia Gibbons, brand manager for Bela-Bouchana from France.

Some of the buyers have also joined the business matching service organised by Intertextile. “This service really helps narrow down our sourcing time at the fair and we are delighted to meet quality suppliers here,” said Ms Sherry Lee from Nibico, licensee for Calvin Klein and Trussardi, who have joined the matching service together with Marks & Spencer.

More Textiles News - China...