Spinexpo Shanghai, held at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center of Pudong, Shanghai from September 2 to 4, 2014 witnessed a lot of business activity and rise in number of international visitors, asserting its international leadership in the field of fibres, yarns, knitwear and knitted fabrics. With a stable and consolidated visitors attendance and a strong increase in business activity, the 24th session of the show hosted 225 exhibitors from 15 countries and welcomed 11,052 visitors, and 14,211 re-entries.
Knitwear companies – highlight of the show
The event has established itself as a unique exhibition by virtue of its strategy and its vision of a world moving rapidly towards globalisation. This was the theme for this 24th session where the Main Trend Area, directed by Sophie Steller and titled ‘Sensing the Motion’ showcased a larger than ever number of partner companies exhibiting at the show and helped revitalize various concepts of fashion bringing a real stimulus for international visitors looking to revive their market share.
Other Trend Areas included a brand new innovative display, ‘Denim Couture’ that continues 
with the concept of ‘sensing’ by looking beyond knitwear and reaching further into the world of what inspires us, exploring a multitude of creative and expressive techniques that combine to make a rich display that looks at denim in a whole new light. The idea of using denim came about because as a very traditional and historically casual fabric it offered the ability to challenge some international leading designers to look at it in a totally new, more glamorous and creative way.
New talent – A true showcase of creativity
The graduates’ work from Nottingham Trent University was on display within the ‘What’s In’ area. The garments and fabrics exhibited were created by students working in collaboration to develop designs of fabrics and garments for the emerging trends and concepts using yarns from a variety of spinners. ‘What’s In’ also showcased a range of garments that have been developed through student sponsorship and live projects with spinners throughout the year.
These sponsorships have evolved after many years of the successful collaborations with Spinexpo. The University also had its own area where more work from the students could be seen.
A number of events took place during the 24th session, starting with a presentation of Mohair South Africa that launched its branding at the show. South Africa is driving global mohair production to new heights, backed up by a growing interest in fashion for the fibre. South Africa is home to the largest mohair handling and marketing facility in the world with over 50% of all mohair produced originating from the angora goat farms on the beautiful plains of the Karoo in South Africa.
A seminar titled ‘International Cashmere Industry Development’, organised by Xuerun Cashmere Products spoke of the healthy and sustainable development of the cashmere industry, comprehensive analysis of the current status of cashmere and an in-depth analysis of Chinese cashmere products market, quality status and rebreeding of the original cashmere goats.
Woolmark Company celebrated ‘50 years of the Woolmark Brand’ and the logo’s purpose of acting as an independent quality assurance of every product it adorns. The company has gained its reputation as being the global authority for quality woollen products, developing close relations with the fashion world and its rich tradition of nurturing fresh talent within the industry. New seasonal guide to the best wool trends and products, created to inspire and inform fashion and textile professionals regarding the infinite potential of merino wool was unveiled on the occasion.
The next session of Spinexpo will return to the Shanghai World Expo
Exhibition & Convention Center from February 3 to 5, 2015.
