The latest edition of Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics-Spring Edition 2015 opened at a brand-new venue ‘the National Exhibition and Convention Center’ in Shanghai on March 18. The three-day fair has a record number of exhibitors participating this time and there is buoyancy among exhibitors and visitors. Over 2,600 suppliers from 24 countries and regions against 1,469 last year, are participating in the biggest ever Spring edition.

“The extra space we have allows us to not only welcome more exhibitors for our buyers to source from, but also to hold concurrent fairs alongside Intertextile Shanghai. And being located closer to the textile manufacturing hubs in the areas surrounding Shanghai, we expect more quality domestic buyers to attend. Plus, with the addition of CHIC this year, as well as the return of our Yarn Expo fair and PH Value, we now cover the entire textile value chain, something both exhibitors and buyers here can benefit from,” said Olaf Schmidt, Vice President, Textile and Textile Technologies at Messe Frankfurt, in his inaugural speech.

Country pavilions and special zones

Various overseas exhibitors are exhibiting their range through different pavilions like the
SalonEurope, Milano Unica Pavilion from Italy, the Portugal Pavilion, the Germany zone, and the France and Premium Wool zones along with country and region pavilions from Japan, Korea, Pakistan and Taiwan, as well as the Texprocil Pavilion from India. For the first time at an Intertextile fair, the Origin Africa Pavilion from Kenya is also present and the Verve for Design zone has doubled in size compared to the 2014 Spring fair. This area features design studios from Australia, France, Hong Kong, Italy and the UK displaying their creative and original fabric pattern designs.

While Verve for Design returns to the fair this year, the All About Sustainability marks its debut after its popularity at last October’s Autumn Edition. This zone is in response to increased interest on sustainability in the industry, especially from China in recent years.

Trend forums and seminars

This year’s fringe program is again keeping the industry up to date on latest trends, market information and more. Four international and Chinese Trend Forums are providung guidance for next season’s trends, with the Intertextile Directions Trend Forum designed by experts from the around the world, and the Fabrics China Trend Forums focusing on menswear, ladies wear and colours.

A series of seminars is also being held, with speakers from both China and abroad delivering informative lectures and presentations on design and trends, technology, sustainability issues, and market information and business strategies.

Three concurrent textile industry events are also taking place at the same venue. Yarn Expo Spring, PH Value previously known as the China International Knitting Trade Fair and CHIC, the 23rd China International Fashion Fair are also being held from March 18 to 20. www.intertextileapparel.com.