Intertextile: anniversary edition for largest textile trade show

By

Matthieu Guinebault

Published
Oct 13, 2014

From October 20 - 23, the Chinese textile event will celebrate its 20th anniversary in Shanghai. More than 3,500 exhibiting companies are expected from 30 countries, before significant changes planned for 2015.

Having moved its March edition from Hong Kong to Shanghai, and before taking up residence in 2015 at the China Expo Complex, Intertextile is preparing to bid farewell to the Shanghai New International Expo Centre. 

Messe Frankfurt, its German organizer, the Chinese Sub-Council of Textile Industry (CCPIT) and the China Textile Information Centre intend to celebrate the end of two decades of existence, marked by the event’s establishment at the forefront of trade shows. 

“Over the past 20 years, Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics has developed into a must-attend trade fair for this sector,” said Wendy Wen, senior general manager of Messe Frankfurt Hong Kong. "This event is seen as the leading platform in Asia for overseas companies to tap into the growing potential in the region, particularly from the expanding Chinese middle and upper classes." 

Intertextile’s October edition will sprawl over almost 2 million ft², divided into 15 halls. The edition is notable in particular for the return for the second consecutive session, of the space “All About Sustainability”, while the area “Beyond Denim” has gotten a new stage design and has extended its range. “Nearly 15% of buyers at last year’s fair were there to source denim," said the organizers. 

Another area whose importance is that dedicated to wool, which will be held alongside SalonEurope, set aside for exhibiting companies from Europe. 

It’s a zone that will once more feature German, Portuguese, Spanish, Turkish, British and French pavilions. But there will be no want of Asian exhibitors. Besides China, there will be companies from India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand. 

Besides focusing on industry-related questions, the trade show also intends to address trends. The space “Verve for Design” will bring together more than twenty studios from eight different countries. Having grown in size by 56%, the space should be able to meet China's growing demand for innovative designs. 

Intertextile will be further complemented by the presence, from October 20 - 22, of the trade shows Yarn Expo Autumn 2014 and PH Value 2014. The former will feature fiber and yarn manufacturers in neighboring halls. The latter focuses on the purchasing of finished products, with a range that includes women's apparel and accessories.