Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics continues to attract the industry’s premium suppliers, with a number of big brands returning to this October’s fair as well as some exciting new high-end suppliers. The 21st Autumn Edition will take place from 13 – 15 October at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), and is expected to feature 4,000 exhibitors from around 30 countries and regions.

Senior General Manager of fair organiser Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, Ms Wendy Wen, outlined the attraction of the event for the industry’s top brands. “While the fair is well-known for its scale, it attracts a large number of buyers from around the world who are sourcing quality, premium products,” she said. “As the Chinese economy becomes more consumer driven, the demand for high-end fabrics from domestic buyers has increased in tandem, but there is also a large number of overseas buyers who also value the ability to source from Europe and Asia’s best in the one place.”

Premium Wool Zone increases in size by over 40%

This year’s SalonEurope (hall 6.2) is a reflection of the quality on offer at the fair, with fabrics and accessories suppliers from over 10 European countries featuring in this zone, including returning pavilions from Germany, Italy (Milano Unica), Portugal and Turkey. Also within SalonEurope is the Premium Wool Zone, which features high-quality wool suppliers from France, Italy and the UK, and increases in size by 35%.

New exhibitors in this zone include Alfred Brown (W.M) Ltd from the UK, a weaver of English fine worsted for men’s suiting. They have been in operation since 1915, and will feature wool with count ranges from 52/2 to 90/2 and super 130 at the fair. Harrisons of Edinburgh are another new British exhibitor with a heritage dating back to 1863, and are well-known for their fine Scottish Tweed collections under the name Porter & Harding. Returning exhibitors featuring this year include Abraham Moon & Sons Ltd, Beijing Vitality Textiles, Dechamps, Dormeuil, Holland & Sherry Ltd, Huddersfield Fine Worsteds, Loa Hai Shing, Mallalieu's of Delph, Mapel, Scabal and Taylor & Lodge (Huddersfield).

Verve for Design features new studios from Japan, Switzerland and Russia

Featuring creative original textile pattern designs from around the world, Verve for Design (hall 6.2) also expands in size this year and features design studios from Japan, Switzerland and Russia for the first time. Studios from Australia, France, Hong Kong, Korea and the UK will also take part. Some exciting newcomers will take part in Verve for Design this year, including:

• Boggia Disegni Srl (Italy): showcasing textile designs for womenswear, including casual wear, street wear, high-street fashion, beach wear and swimwear. • Gibson Design Studio (Switzerland): featuring exclusive textile designs for a range of womenswear, menswear, swimwear, beachwear and lingerie. • Solstudio Textile Design (Russia): this studio creates unique textile designs for fashion companies and fabric manufacturers around the world, and has designs ready for traditional and digital printing. • Dammann Brown (UK): is bringing embellished and beaded swatches to the fair which are designed in the UK for apparel collections. • Owens And Kim Ltd (UK): will display contemporary print designs for womenswear, swimwear and lingerie. • Studio Isabel Ltd (UK): showcasing a creative collection of prints and embroideries for womenswear and swimwear.

As well as the fabrics and accessories on offer at Intertextile Shanghai, Messe Frankfurt’s Yarn Expo Autumn trade fair also takes place concurrently, while Planet Textiles – The Sustainable Textile Event, is held on 14 October.

Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Autumn Edition 2015 is co-organised by Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd; the Sub-Council of Textile Industry, CCPIT; and the China Textile Information Centre.