Intertextile Beijing Apparel Fabrics ends with increasing number of visitors

+Up five percent, visitor figures jump to more than 26,000 buyers

+Quality suppliers from Europe and abroad attract quality buyers from China

+Debut Milano Unica pavilion a success for exhibitors and buyers alike

A majority of the buyers came from China including 35% came from Beijing province, 38% from the eastern coastal provinces, 11% from Guangdong province in the south, and 16% from the rest of China. A bulk of the buyers (54%) were garment manufacturers, but importers, wholesalers, and retailers were also present in high numbers.

The remaining buyers came from overseas including top international visiting countries and regions Hong Kong China, Korea, Japan, the US, Italy, Russia, Taiwan China, Turkey, Pakistan, India, while siginificant increases from Brazil, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and Vietnam were also recorded.

With over 1,300 exhibitors, the show was 22% bigger than 2011, and had strong growth from international participation: 335 exhibitors outside of China. Exhibitors came from 16 countries and regions with the most coming from China (1016 exhibitors). The top six international exhibitors included Italy, Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Germany and Japan with Austria, India, Pakistan, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey and the UK all highlighting a broad range of products targeting mass to luxury market sectors in menswear, ladieswear, swimwear, children’s wear, casualwear and sportswear.

A key feature this season was the Milano Unica pavilion in hall 2 within the frame of SalonEurope. This glamorous and highly selected environment featured 95 top-end apparel fabrics and accessory companies boasting “Made in Italy” collections, a distinction that attracted 2,027 VIP buyers worldwide, with a majority of them from China.

“This is a continuation of our efforts to integrate high quality and well-made textile products to a burgeoning China marketplace,” commented Detlef Braun, Member of the Executive Boards of Messe Frankfurt GmbH during the SalonEurope opening ceremony held on day one of the fair with a dozen dignitaries such as Wang Tian-kai and Zhang Yan-kai, President and Vice President (respectively) of China National Textile & Apparel Council. Xu Ying-xin, Executive Vice President of The Sub-Council of Textile Industry, CCPIT; Silvio Albini, President of Milano Unica and Pier Luigi Loro Piana and Paolo Zegna, both members of the presidents’ committee of Milano Unica.

Braun spoke optimistically of the debut collaboration: “With 25 years of textile trade fair experience in Asia, it’s clear - that if we wish to advance growth and progress, we have to support innovation and design as well as creatively and move forward in aligning ourselves with leading partners worldwide.”

Biella Manifatture Tessili SpA-Division Guabello, Lanificio F.Lli Cerrutti SpA, Marini & Cecconi-Ospiti Del Mondo, Marzotto SpA Divisione Esthethia GB Conte, Piacenza Cashmere, Vitale Barberis Canonico SpA, plus many more were among the Italian exhibitors showcasing their Spring / Summer 2013 ladieswear and menswear garment collections at the Milano Unica pavilion in Hall 2, where top standards of Italian cotton, wool, silk, linen, hemp, cashmere, innovative mixtures, textile and non textile accessory productions were proposed to buyers.

“Chinese clients have become increasingly knowing and demanding when it comes to quality and style of fabrics”, says Luigi Guarducci of Lanificio Europa, a first time participant in China. “I come from an Italian traditional textile district, specialised in wool productions, and I have decided to join this beautiful Milano Unica pavilion because I believe synergies are the new most important promotional strategies in a globalised world. I think the number of Italian quality exhibitors is certainly bound to grow, just as the demand from the Chinese market.”

Altogether 150 exhibitors in SalonEurope covered 5,000 sqm of exhibition space in halls 2 & 3, and grouped suppliers from Europe including Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, the UK as well as special country / region pavilions from Germany and Portugal. A variety of classic cottons, silks and wools as well as a broad range of cashmeres, jacquard woven’s and wool blends were on show.

Exhibitors uniamously agreed: Chinese consumers are choosing quality over quantity when it comes to fashion. Exhibiting for nearly two decades, high quality Italian shirting producer, Testa, launched their exclusive cotton shirting collection with gold yarn. “Buyers in Beijing are a very discerning clientele who, over the years, have acquired very fancy tastes and demand the very highest of quality in fabrics,” said Claudia Rovati.

Exhibitors also remarked that there has never been a better time for international companies to break into the market. “This is the right time for us,” stated Burcin Durgun, Head of Marketing for Soktas. “China is becoming more and more important for high quality textiles, and this fair is a good place to meet new Chinese clients. It’s only the first day and we have been busy with very positive response to our new shirtings and casualwear fabrics targeting the China market.”

“This is our first time at Intertextile Beijing and I’ve been happy to receive such good feedback ,” said Manuela Araujo, CEO for Lemar, a casualwear and swimwear fabrics producer from Portugal. The Portugal pavilion grouped seven exhibitors in SalonEurope showcasing a range of natural materials and fashion fabrics.

Visitors also remarked upon the increasing importance of the fair for the premium apparel fabrics market. Yan Meiyi, buyer for Liaoning A & V Group Co Ltd, a garment manufacturer in China has visited the fair twice: “It’s really an inspirational platform giving us the latest international textile trends. Just looking around, I truly believe that most high fashion and luxury brand buyers are here, looking for quality fabrics, especially amongst SalonEurope exhibitors.”

“I’m impressed with this fair’s evolution – from a domestic event to an intenational one,” said Kailin Yang, Director of Material R&D for American luxury brand Halston. “I really enjoyed visiting this show. I had the opportunity to meet with my existing suppliers from Europe as well as meet new quality suppliers from China. I will definitely return next year!”

Anta, Bosideng, K-boxing, Saint Angelo, Septwolves, Toread, Vancl and Vero Moda were among some of the popular attending domestic brands while Burberry, Kenneth Cole, Li & Fung, Prada, Tory Burch and Zara were among some of the well-known international buyers.

High praise for the show and buyers were echoed throughout the three day event. “The main reason we take part in this show is the quality of professional buyers who come from popular domestic brands from Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Shenzhen,” stated Liu Jiming, a representative for Sunwell (Shanghai) Co Ltd, a ladieswear fabrics specialist from Japan, showcasing their Spring / Summer 2013 synthetic fabrics. In total, 11 suppliers showcased a selection of top quality ladieswear and menswear fabrics at the Japan zone in hall 3.

Meanwhile nearly 60 suppliers from Korea showcased a great variety of functional fabrics suitable for sportswear, casualwear and ladieswear in hall 4. Managing Director for FNT Textile Co Ltd, James Lee noted, “Intertextile Beijing Apparel Fabrics is the leading industry platform and we need to be here to reach out to the rapidly growing fashion market in China.”

First time exhibitors were equally as satisifed with the number of buyers on-site. “I am so happy, the response from the buyers at the show has been beyond my expectations,” observed Mr Dilip Agarwal, Director of Indmoda Export Ltd, lace, chiffon and silk experts from India.

Additonal pavilions from Pakistan and Taiwan China were also well received by buyers on-site who sourced for a number of products from cotton and denim to recyled polyester and dyed yarns. “I have found excellent suppliers for accessories, lace and cotton fabrics in the international halls,” remarked Hui-yong Cui, Production Technical Director for Inner Mongolia Elite Textile Company who focus on producing cashmere and knitted sweaters.

In addition to a complete range of apparel fabrics and garment accessories, attendees were treated to a lavish display of colour at the Intertextile Directions Trend Forum, presenting textures, colours and moods for the Spring / Summer 2013 season. In addition, the China Textiles Information Centre presented their own views on colour trends for Spring 2013 in a separate trend area called “Fabrics China”.

Complementing the on-site trend forums were a series of design and trend seminars as well as topics covering certification and testing, market news and business strategies as well as legal issues concerning the textile industry.

The next edition of Intertextile Beijing Apparel Fabrics takes place from 27 – 29 March 2013 and is organised by Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, the Sub-council of Textile Industry, CCPIT, and the China Textile Information Centre.