BEIJING, CHINA - A diverse world of apparel fabrics and accessories will be on display at this year’s Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Autumn Edition 2014, set down for 20 to 23 October at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre. Over 3,500 exhibitors from more than 30 countries and regions are expected to participate, with some of the most popular features of the fair again to be SalonEurope, the country / region pavilions and the group pavilions.
This year’s SalonEurope, covering 10,000 sqm, contains fabric manufacturing mills, accessories suppliers and design houses from Europe all looking to meet the demand for high-end products in the domestic market. Country pavilions from Germany, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, the UK and the France zone return again, as does the Milano Unica Pavilion from Italy. Also featuring in SalonEurope is the Premium Wool zone which showcases quality wool fabrics from France, Italy and the UK. And Verve for Design will house design studios from Australia, France, Italy, Korea, Spain and the UK, all exhibiting their latest original creative fabrics and textile pattern designs.
The strong participation from Europe once again shows the importance these exhibitors place on the Chinese market according to Olaf Schmidt, Vice President of Textiles & Textile Technologies for Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH. “European textile companies are putting a lot of effort into understanding and meeting the needs of the Chinese market,” he said. “They also see this fair as the ideal platform to reach those domestic buyers looking for high-end, premium products thanks to SalonEurope, the Premium Wool zone, Verve for Design and other aspects of the fair.”
UK and France exhibitors cater to the premium market
The very best of British textiles are to be showcased in this year’s UK Pavilion, with some of the industry’s premium suppliers taking part. One of these is Liberty Art Fabrics, a name synonymous with luxury and great design since 1875. They are an internationally recognised leader in floral, paisley and patterned dress & fashion fabrics which they will exhibit at the fair.
Cotton exhibitor M. Makower & Co Ltd is a leading producer of premium 100% cotton patchwork and quilting fabrics that has been in business for over 150 years. They have an extensive collection of solid dyes, textures and printed fabrics from their English design studio. Also featuring in the UK Pavilion is Stephen Walters & Sons Ltd who design four seasonal collections each year for neckwear fabrics, in repp and jacquard weaves, using silk, linen, cotton, cashmere and wool weft yarns. They offer a wide choice of designs, sizes, yarns, weaves and finishes that can be used to create a range of fabrics for apparel and accessories.
Meanwhile, the France zone will feature good quality of ladieswear fabric suppliers. The exhibitors taking part are looking to benefit from the increase in demand in China for premium fabrics and see the fair as the best way to do this. As more and more Chinese buyers are becoming sensitive to the quality, creativity and authentic origin of the fabrics they use, they will be able to meet these requirements with the weavers in this zone.
The French exhibitors are targeting high-end, haute couture and luxury brands and designers with their chic and elegant fabrics for ladieswear, and haute couture lace for lingerie. Goutarel will feature genuine lace, fabrics for wedding dresses and haute couture items. Soieries Chambutaires are suppliers of silk fabrics and sophisticated jacquards. Malfroy Million will showcase their latest silk fabrics and scarves. While Solstiss are suppliers of haute couture lace that also provided fabrics for the 2013 film The Great Gatsby. Lastly, SATAB will bring their high-end, fancy ribbons to the fair.
Six country / region pavilions from Asia to feature
The best of Asia will also be on display at Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics with country / region pavilions from India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Thailand. Exhibitors in the Japan Pavilion will specialise in knitted, cotton, wool, man-made and linen / ramie fabrics, while those in the Taiwan Pavilion will display functional, knitted, jacquard and man-made yarns and fabrics, as well as lace and embroidery.
Buyers looking for the latest innovations in apparel fabrics and accessories will find them in the group pavilions, which are organised by leading fibre and yarn companies and feature their partner mills. Pavilions from Birla Cellulose (Grasim), Cotton Council International, DuPont, Hyosung, INVISTA, the Korea Chemical Fibers Association (KCFA), the Korea Textile Centre (KTC), the Korea Textile Trade Association (KTTA) and Lenzing can be found at this year’s fair.
Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Autumn Edition 2014 is co-organised by Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd; the Sub-Council of Textile Industry, CCPIT; and the China Textile Information Centre.
