Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics
returned with its Autumn Edition from 23 - 25 September, welcoming over 73,500
visitors, alongside nearly 3,400 exhibitors from 20 countries and regions.
Complementing the physical trade fair, new
online platforms and digital solutions were added to the mix of services on
offer, enhancing business opportunities amid the international travel
disruptions. The combination of onsite and online services worked to further
stimulate the industry’s recovery and maintained the fair’s leading global
position in the textile apparel market.
Intertextile Apparel running as planned has
been another significant step for the industry which has received enthusiastic
support from both domestic and overseas participants. Feedback from this
edition and the absence of trade fairs earlier in the year has stressed the
value and irreplaceability of in-person business interactions, with fairgoers
keen to meet with potential buyers and suppliers face-to-face.
Particularly in the textile market, where
products should be seen and felt up close, visitors appreciated the chance to
comprehensively source for their needs in-person. Meanwhile, exhibitors
experienced a strong demand for their products from quality buyers, making up
for lost business earlier in the year.
Following the conclusion of the fair, Ms
Wendy Wen, Senior General Manager of Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd acknowledged,
“It’s apparent that the industry has greatly appreciated the return of
Intertextile Apparel following the Shenzhen edition in July, as it's still recognized
as an ideal platform to reconnect with business partners and to allow
participants to see and feel products in-person.”
Sourcing efficiency increased thanks to Debut
Hybrid Showcase
The debut Hybrid Showcase was well-received
by buyers and exhibitors alike. Virtual exhibitors benefitted from fairgoers
being able to touch and feel their products displayed onsite, whilst buyers
enjoyed the advantages of a wide-ranging and efficient sourcing experience.
Combined with the brand-new online business
matching tool – Connect PLUS, which features video calling and instant
messaging functions – Intertextile’s digital solutions successfully allowed
businesses to stay connected, despite the global travel restrictions.
Over 500 virtual and onsite meetings were
arranged during the fair through Connect PLUS and the VIP business matching
programme, which connected VIP buyers with suppliers via pre-scheduled Zoom
meetings.
Market
insights shared at the fringe programme
The fringe programme invited industry
leaders to share practices and market insights with the audience through a
range of seminars and forums. The Wool Industry and e-Commerce Forum: Upgrading
Supply Mode for e-Commerce welcomed speakers from key players in the field such
as The Woolmark Company and Tmall.
Meanwhile, the new ‘Fabric to Fashion’
Buyer Forum explored how businesses can develop their supply chains of the
future to improve productivity, increase product quality and reduce costs.
What’s more, market changes triggered by
the pandemic were also discussed during the Analysis of Current Textile
Industry Environment and Emerging Covid-19 Success Story Sharing Forum, to help
steer the industry forward and realize the potential of post-pandemic
opportunities.
Positive feedback from exhibitors and visitors
“For this edition, our main goal is to promote our brand influence
in China as well as to launch our newly developed products to our existing
customers. The momentum of visitors has been really strong and we are happy
with the number of buyers at our booth,” said Mr Hunter Liu, Senior BD Manager,
Dormeuil, France.
“The fair opening as scheduled means a lot for the industry as it’s
a crucial platform for textile businesses. Despite the pandemic, many renowned
denim suppliers for example are gathered at the fair. Face-to-face interaction
is the bread and butter for any business and to be able to be here at the fair,
reconnecting with the industry is extremely valuable and important to us,” said
Dr Bei Hu, Vice President, Business Management, Greater China, BASF, Germany.
“At the moment, we urgently need to source one kind of functional
fabric so I sorted through the exhibitors I wanted to meet on the fair website
in advance. I’m very thrilled to have found the breathable fabrics I needed
today at the Toray booth in the Hybrid Showcase area,” said Ms Elaine Miao,
Asia Pacific Purchasing Manager, Sportboleh Sdn. Bhd, Malaysia.
“I have been working in the apparel industry for nearly 30 years,
and have been visiting Intertextile Apparel, both the Spring Edition and the
Autumn Edition, on a yearly basis. This platform enables me to meet and
communicate with our suppliers,” said Mr Sun Xu, Sourcing Manager, Richland
Liaoning International Co Ltd, China.
Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Autumn Edition 2020 was held
concurrently with Yarn Expo Autumn, CHIC and PH Value from 23 – 25 September at
the National Exhibition and Convention Center. The fair is co-organized by
Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd; the Sub-Council of Textile Industry, CCPIT; and the
China Textile Information Centre.
The next edition of the fair, Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics –
Spring Edition, will again take place alongside Yarn Expo Spring, Intertextile
Shanghai Home Textiles – Spring Edition, CHIC and PH Value, from 10 – 12 March
2021, at the National Exhibition and Convention Center.