news +++ Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics
National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), China, 6 – 8 March 2024

International visitor numbers double, exhibitors commend
domestic market strength at Shanghai’s Intertextile ApparelShanghai, 21 March 2024. After three days of facilitating cross-border businessacross the show floor, fringe events, and various Spring / Summer 2025 fashion
forums, the global apparel flagship fair closed doors on 8 March. Following thegovernment’s easing of visa requirements, the over 3,000-supplier showcase saw a
22.9% increase in international exhibitors compared to the previous Spring Edition.
Welcoming nearly 90,000 visitors from 116 countries and regions, international
visitor numbers rose by 99% at this year’s show, with a higher than usual 87%
returning on Days 2 and 3 signifying considerable sourcing intent. Across 190,000
sqm and seven halls of the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai),domestic buyer demand for various Chinese and globally produced textiles was
also high, particularly in categories with luxury, sustainable, and functional
elements.
Just before the fair’s close, Ms Wilmet Shea, General Manager of Messe Frankfurt (HK)Ltd, commented: “From raw materials to finished garments, apparel textiles is one of theworld’s most interconnected industries, and this Spring Edition’s strong showing ofexhibitors and buyers has reiterated the importance of Intertextile Apparel to the global
market. With multiple opportunities for insight and innovation exchange, domestic andinternational visitors were able to stay on-trend for Spring / Summer 2025. The
exceptional return rate of overseas buyers across the three days bodes well for the global
market, and speaks to the multitude of sourcing options at our comprehensive platform.
After the high attendance and positive feedback for this show, we have already set oursights on Intertextile Apparel’s 30th anniversary edition this autumn, which is sure to beunmissable.”Joining the Spring Edition’s strong flow of domestic buyers, the top five visiting countries
and regions were Korea, Hong Kong, India, Russia, and Japan. In addition, the fairwelcomed over 100 buyers from delegations representing industry associations of Hong
Kong, Malaysia, the Philippines, Russia, and Vietnam. Pavilions and zones from France,Italy, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Türkiye were well received, as were group pavilions fromKorea Textile Center, Lenzing, and OEKO-TEX® .
Meanwhile, suppliers from new exhibiting countries showcased varying products,including Ethiopia’s Arbaminch Textile Share Company, with sustainable natural andsynthetic fabrics; Peru’s Topy Top SA and its 100% cotton knitted garments; and Spain’s
Monday&Co, displaying pattern designs for fashion and interiors. From across the textile
spectrum, many of the show’s exhibitors lauded the renewed ease of doing business andthe prevailing strength of the domestic market.
Exhibitors’ feedback“We are an Italian company which specialises in producing cashmere and cashmere
blends. We have brought our winter collection, and our S/S 25 collection for both men andwomen. The first day of the fair, we had many important customers placing orders. It
seems we are back to the fairs of 2016 – 2018, where it was really profitable. It’s a goodsign for the Chinese luxury market – in the last year, domestic menswear brands have
improved, and for womenswear, we are doing very well with online brands, many of whichcame to our booth to see our products.”
Mr Andrea Rossi, Sales Manager, Lanificio Luigi Colombo S.p.A (Italy Pavilion)“Our main products are cotton and linen, and we’ve added some functional fabrics suchas nylon and polyester. We also do sustainable fabrics, including organic, and recycled
nylon, which are more in-demand from domestic buyers at this edition. The Japan Pavilion
is really helpful, we can harness its reputation, and let more people see what Shibaya
does. We’re using a new WeChat sample ordering system, and we’ve received even morecustomer details; it’s been a very good exhibition.”
Mr Chen Yu Jyun, Sales Section, Shibaya (Japan Pavilion)“Intertextile Apparel is the platform for the domestic launch of our innovative textile coating
HeiQ Skincare, a 100% bio-textile technology. Infused clothing can slowly releasebeneficial microorganisms to help skin glow and repair itself. With no market alternatives,
HeiQ’s technology is highly recognised by industry players. However, we still need large,
comprehensive platforms such as this to help us reach our diverse target sectors,including garments, fabrics, accessories, home textiles, industrial textiles, and more.”
Ms Jeanie Hu, Marketing Director Greater China, HeiQ (China) Material Tech Co Ltd,
Switzerland (Functional Lab)“We chose the most influential industry platform, Intertextile Apparel, to debut officially inChina. Beyond my expectation, our patterns are welcomed by Chinese buyers, especiallythose with nature and ocean styles. This year, our patterns are featured in the TrendForum, which might attract more target buyers. It’s amazing that this platform caneffectively bring the most ideal customers to us and give us an overview of the wholemarket in just three days. This is the ideal show to help us step into the Chinese market.”
Ms Debora Chodik, Co-founder, Monday&Co, Spain (Verve for Design)“Fine wool remains the centrepiece of natural materials, but in terms of styling, these days
most people mix and match wool clothing with casual items, or go for a more casual style.
For fabrics, the emerging demand is for functionality like natural stretch or wool blended
with other casual fibres such as linen. Our main goal of joining this fair is to find our key
customers, and we achieve this at every edition. I believe the majority of high-end
manufacturing will remain in China, as it requires very skilled workers to cope with very

complex manufacturing processes. In addition, it's hard to find another place that canproduce such large volumes efficiently and stably over a long period."
Mr Kai Wang, Deputy General Manager, Beijing Vitality Textiles, China (PremiumWool Zone)“We need sustainability along the whole supply chain, and that’s what MADE IN GREEN
stands for. It’s our cornerstone for end consumers, growing 73% last year. Consumers aremaking decisions, pushing regulations, and pushing brands and retailers to initiatechange. China’s visa-free initiative is really important for international trade, and I feel like
we are back to the Intertextile Apparel of pre-covid times. The engagement is interesting,innovative, and we see a bright future for China and for sustainability.”
Ms Linda Wegelin, Chief Commercial Officer, Testex AG, Switzerland (OEKO-TEXPavilion)
Since November’s offering of visa-free travel to France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands,Spain, and Malaysia, the Chinese government has since added Ireland, Switzerland,Singapore, and Thailand to the list1. With strong exhibitor representation across multiple
categories, from functional and sustainable to suiting and shirting, domestic andinternational visitors were pleased with the options available.
Buyers’ comments“I visit the fair every year to learn about new products and industry trends. As a large
brand company, JNBY's demand for fabrics is huge in terms of categories and quantity.
We came here to purchase all kinds of fabrics for men, women and children, especiallylinen, denim and fabrics for outdoor sports and sun protection. Exhibitors ORTA andNantong Tianzhu matched our needs very well. There are many highlights at this edition,and various innovative, sustainable fabrics can provide ideas for our R&D and fabricselection.”
Mr Cao Yunfeng, Senior Fabric Purchasing Manager, JNBY Finery Co Ltd, China“The global market is growing, so we chose Intertextile Apparel, the world’s most wellknown industry event, as our sourcing platform this year. The scale is huge, and with Yarn
Expo and Intertextile Home Textiles, it covers most of the industry’s upstream anddownstream categories. We came to purchase anti-fouling and eco-friendly chemical fibrefabrics. I found several interesting suppliers in the Trend Forum and visited them in theTaiwan and Japan Pavilions, and should place orders after the meeting.”
Mr Hong Sajun, Purchasing Manager of YoungHW Textile Trading Co Ltd, Korea“Sourcing in China makes sense logistically, it's best to maximise our margins, with many
opportunities that we have yet to explore. At this fair, I’ve seen many useful fabrics for thebrand, that will inspire the design team, with realistic commercial applications. It’s really
important for global and domestic industries to be together, because that’s the nature ofdesign, it’s very collaborative and being isolated in your own bubble doesn’t help anybody.
It’s great to see a different culture’s take on a motif, new technology, or new innovation.”
Ms Rebecca Sales, Senior Fabric Design & Development Manager, Jonathan Simkai
Inc, USA“Every year we come here to select new fabrics and patterns for our customers, mainly
concentrated in Europe and America, and make orders according to their demands. Thefringe events and trend zones can help us better summarise the current trends, and selectcorresponding exhibitors, making purchasing more efficient. This show is not only about
the display of goods, but also reflecting the whole industry’s present and future, andapplying conceptual ideas to production, which is very exciting and rewarding.”
1 ‘China expands visa exemption policy to attract more foreigners’, February 2024, Radio Free Asia,
https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/china-visa-foreign-investment-economy-travel-02042024235154.html

Mr Dai Zhichun, CEO, Anhui Sinsell Textile Co., Ltd, China
Encompassing the themes Design & Trend, Market Information & Business Strategies,
Sustainability Issues, and Technology & Solutions, this edition’s fringe programme
covered 35 seminars, themed forums, and product presentations, supplementing thebusiness conducted on the show floor.
Fringe participants’ insights“My presentation was about our Open Lab. HKRITA is a research institute, and we believethat R&D cannot just be kept in the laboratory. We want to have multiple parties talk about
how to solve the environmental problem. I think it was really wonderful, we've got parties
from the government, brands, and also fabric makers with different angles to talk aboutsustainability, which is ultimately a topic for everybody. There is real interest in
sustainable topics, and we've had a good turnout.”
Ms Clara Tse, Senior Manager, Research Product Design, HKRITA, Hong Kong
“The design of the Trend Forum very much speaks for itself to show the important colours
for each theme, and I think people are actually able to get it. And the generosity of themanufacturers to give us all the fabrics and print patterns, put together made the stories
as clear as I like to see. At this show, you have more realistic fabrics, fabrics with budget
limitations, for real people and for real production. After over 25 years, this has come to be
the best of the best textile shows.”
Mr Kai Chow, Creative Director, DONEGER | TOBE, USA
As the apparel fair is held concurrently with Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles – Spring
Edition, Yarn Expo Spring, CHIC and PH Value, the entire textile value chain can be foundunder one roof, providing an extended platform for business networking opportunities.
The fair 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. To find out more about all Messe Frankfurt textile fairs
worldwide, please visit: www.texpertise-network.com.
Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Spring Edition was held from 6 – 8 March 2024.
Other upcoming shows:Intertextile Shenzhen Apparel Fabrics / Yarn Expo Shenzhen
5 – 7 June 2024, Shenzhen (Futian)Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Autumn Edition / Yarn Expo Autumn
27 – 29 August 2024, Shanghai
Vietnam International Trade Fair for Apparel, Textiles and Textile Technologies
26 – 28 February 2025, Ho Chi Minh City
Press information and photographic material:
https://intertextile-shanghai-apparel-fabricsspring.hk.messefrankfurt.com/shanghai/en/press.html
Social media and website:www.facebook.com/intertextileapparelhttps://twitter.com/Intertextile
www.linkedin.com/in/intertextileapparel
www.instagram.com/intertextileapparelYour contact:
Jason Taylor
Phone: +852 2230 9296
jason.taylor@hongkong.messefrankfurt.com
Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd35/F, China Resources Building
26 Harbour Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong
www.messefrankfurt.com.hk
Newsroom

Background information on Messe Frankfurt
The Messe Frankfurt Group is the world’s largest trade fair, congress and event organiser
with its own exhibition grounds. With a workforce of some 2,300* people at its
headquarters in Frankfurt am Main and in 28* subsidiaries, it organises events around theworld. Group sales in financial year 2023 were more than € 600* million. We serve ourcustomers’ business interests efficiently within the framework of our Fairs & Events,Locations and Services business fields. One of Messe Frankfurt’s key strengths is its
powerful and closely knit global sales network, which covers around 180 countries in all
regions of the world. Our comprehensive range of services – both onsite and online –ensures that customers worldwide enjoy consistently high quality and flexibility whenplanning, organising and running their events. We are using our digital expertise todevelop new business models. The wide range of services includes renting exhibition
grounds, trade fair construction and marketing, personnel and food services.
Sustainability is a central pillar of our corporate strategy. Here, we strike a healthy balancebetween ecological and economic interests, social responsibility and diversity.
For more information, please visit our website at: www.messefrankfurt.com/sustainability
With its headquarters in Frankfurt am Main, the company is owned by the City of Frankfurt(60 percent) and the State of Hesse (40 percent).
For more information, please visit our website at: www.messefrankfurt.com* Preliminary figures for 2023