Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Autumn Edition 2015

As the countdown to Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Autumn Edition 2015 ticks below one month, details of further product zones and events, both brand-new and returning, are ready to be announced. This includes the debut Performance Lab for the high-performance activewear market, the returning All About Sustainability and Innotex Space zones, as well as the Planet Textiles Summit on textiles and sustainability which takes place on 14th October, the second day of Intertextile Shanghai’s three-day run. Also occurring parallel to the fair are a wide range of seminars on design & trends, technology & solutions, sustainability issues and much more.

Intertextile Shanghai expands its functional fabrics offerings with debut Performance Lab

As with all the product zones at the fair, the Performance Lab is responding to a current need in the market and matching demand from buyers. Particularly in China, but also in many other markets, the growth in smart, functional fabrics for high-performance activewear and other garments is very strong. Responding to this growth by participating in the debut Performance Lab at Intertextile Shanghai are a number of leading brands including Nilit, Nylstar, Thermore, Toyobo and Unifi. A group pavilion by the Korea Chemical Fibers Association will also feature, with their members such as Huvis, Hyosung and Toray Chemical Korea participating.

In addition to the overseas exhibitors in the Performance Lab, over 330 Chinese suppliers will also showcase functional wear and sportswear fabrics in hall 5.1 – which also includes Innotex Space – to offer an even more diverse range of options for buyers. Leading Chinese brands HTT Material Technology Co Ltd, Kunshan Huayang New Material Co Ltd and Shang Hai T&Y Intertex are some of those that will take part. More than just an event to source products however, there is also a wealth of market information for participants to explore. Responding to the growing demand for high-performance sportswear, Americas Apparel Producers’ Network (AAPN) will hold a panel discussion session titled ‘Activewear – the impact of this hot ‘fashion’ trend in the US’. 

Buyers looking for cutting-edge products can also find them in the Innotex Space area. This year, around 70 companies will be displaying their new textile applications, and innovative technologies and products, with a number of these also giving seminar presentations to further explain their offerings.

All About Sustainability and Planet Textiles Summit industry’s most comprehensive sustainability platforms

While functional fabrics are a current growth area in the global apparel market, so too is the issue of sustainability in the fashion and textiles industry. Those interested in products, services or just the latest knowledge in this area, can find them all in the returning All About Sustainability zone and the Planet Textiles Summit. The former expands in size this year by nearly 30% as the zone becomes more established at the fair. Some of the participants include Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), Ecocent and UL VS Ltd, while Bros Eastern Co Ltd, Handseltex Industry Corp, New Wide Group and Unifi Textiles (Suzhou) Co Ltd will present sustainable fabrics and garments in the ecoBoutique display area. An Oeko-Tex Pavilion also features there, while a seminar section inside the zone will offer a series of presentations specifically on sustainability in the industry.

The Planet Textiles Summit which addresses the environmental and social impacts of the global textile supply chain, will take place on 14 October, and is jointly presented by MCL Global and Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd. In total, 10 presentations from leading experts in the field of sustainability will take place, covering both global and China-specific topics. Speakers from these organisations are confirmed to take part: adidas Apparel Sourcing, Institute of Public & Environmental Affairs, China, VF Corporation, NimkarTek Technical Services, Covestro, Solidaridad China, bluesign technologies, China National Textile & Apparel Council and H&M. The platinum event sponsor is Covestro.

The summit will take place in English with simultaneous translations into Chinese. For more information, including registering for, or sponsoring Planet Textiles, see: info@mclglobal.net.

New panel discussions and digital printing forum compliment wide-ranging seminar Programme

This year’s fringe programme promises to be one of the most comprehensive yet, with over 25 seminars, forums, panel discussions and product presentations already confirmed to take place. In the design & trend category, a number of seminars will explain different aspects of next season’s fashion trends, with organisations such as PeclersParis, Elementi Moda, Promostyl and Idem Elena Marchesini ITALIAN FASHION DESIGN giving presentations.

With sustainability being a big focus of the fair, the likes of Hohenstein Institute, Better Cotton Initiative, American & Efird and Unifi will conduct seminars. Five panel discussions will also feature for the first time, with topics focusing on new materials, designers’ insights into fibres, colours, inspiration and innovations, the opportunities presented by e-commerce, and the impact of the activewear trend. Also taking place for the first time is a digital printing forum with Konica Minolta, Kornit and Liberty London lending their expertise. Full details of the fringe programme can be found on the fair’s website.

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.

For more details on this fair, please visit: www.intertextileapparel.com.