news +++ Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics
National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), China, 27 – 29 August 2024

Intertextile Apparel concludes: 30th anniversary edition’sscale, variety and internationality highlights global importanceShanghai, 16 September 2024. The fair, which wrapped three days of business on
29 August, has reiterated its position as one of the world’s most important sourcing
platforms for apparel textiles and accessories, and an important avenue toovercome the industry’s structural changes and recent challenges. Nearly 4,000
exhibitors from 26 countries and regions showcased the products and solutions set
to define fashion’s coming seasons, with a renewed focus on functionality,sustainability, and digitalisation. They were met at the National Exhibition andConvention Center (Shanghai) by over 100,000 visitors (2023: 95,000) from 115
countries and regions, with this edition’s 29% rise in international buyers marking
back-to-back increases after overseas visitors doubled in spring1. There was also a
15% increase in visitors attending for two or more days, reflecting the fair’srelevance to industry players. Beyond Autumn / Winter 2025-26 sourcing, fairgoerswere able to network and discover new trends, digital innovation and market
insights at the fair’s expansive fringe programme.
Speaking at the fair’s close, Ms Wilmet Shea, General Manager of Messe Frankfurt (HK)Ltd, said: “We have been eager to communicate that while Intertextile may be the world’s
largest sourcing hub for apparel textiles, it is so much more than that. Industry players fromall over the world come here seeking inspiration and innovation for the constantly evolving
textile market. For 30 years, this fair has grown and stayed relevant by consistently moving
with the times – hence the launch of our new Econogy Hub and Digital Solutions Zone, andan expanded fringe programme that featured leading experts discussing everything fromtesting compliance to generative AI’s role in textile design. These kinds of insights are key
for companies looking to operate successfully in a sustainable, technology-driven future.”
Ms Shea continued: “Our exhibitors recognise this need for change, and their on-trend,
innovative and sustainable offerings strongly complemented the themes at our fringe
events. Whether showcasing regenerated functional fabrics, organic buttons, or all-in-one
traceability platforms, the variety on show was astounding. None of this would have beenpossible without the outstanding contributions of our pavilion organisers, as well as oursupporting organisations, numerous exhibitors and buyers, and speakers, whose active
contributions over the past 30 years have helped make this the leading fair for appareltextiles.”Across the 240,000 sqm exhibition space, highlights included the debuts of the Malaysia
and Uzbekistan Pavilions. Among the seven returning pavilions from Asia and Europe, the1 Both shows in 2024 compared to their respective editions in 2023.

Japan Pavilion made its 21st appearance2, Milano Unica featured for the 20th time, and theKorea and Taiwan Pavilions celebrated over 25 years at the show.
The fair’s new Digital Solutions Zone contained industry-leading knitting machinery, design
systems and software, various AI solutions, and more. With other sustainable suppliers
spread throughout the fairground, Econogy Hub, the rebrand of the fair’s longstanding All
About Sustainability zone, included 36 exhibitors, three display zones and ecoBoutique.
Meanwhile, the latest accessories, denim, fabric designs, functional fabrics, premium wool
and more were displayed in the fair’s various product zones.
The organiser of the Japan Pavilion, Ms Mutsuko Tatsukami, Planning Director Textile
Div., Japan Fashion Week Organization, commented: “Japan has such wide-ranging
fabrics from top to bottom. It is important for Japanese companies to exhibit at Intertextile
Apparel to develop their Asian markets, and they feel it’s more efficient to be grouped
together in the Japan Pavilion. Our Japan Trend Corner serves as a gateway to all of thebooths and helps attract buyers. Seasonal trends mean it is very important to be here for
S/S and A/W. Over the years, the standard of buyers, the fair’s overall standards, and thequality of fabrics have all greatly improved.”
On the visitor side, organisations from India, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand andVietnam brought delegations to the fair. With buyers including global garment
manufacturers, wholesalers, brands, department stores and more, international visitor
numbers grew again this autumn, adding to the strong visitor flow.
Visiting the show as part of the Singapore Fashion Council delegation, Ms Monika
Januavita Kopeng, Lead Fashion Designer at Love, Bonito Singapore, said:“Intertextile Apparel is a really great place to meet many exhibitors from different countries,
with suppliers bringing their own expertise and fabric specialties, and to expose ourselves
as a brand to opportunities from different mills. We came here with a sourcing agenda, andwe’ve discovered new advanced technology and fabrics that we’ve never seen before. It
has been a really great opportunity for us. We would like to join the fair next year for Spring/ Summer.”Of the 30th anniversary edition’s more than 50 fringe events, 25 were sustainability-focusedwith 14 under the Econogy Talks umbrella, which has been a major focus for the organisers
as Messe Frankfurt extends its Texpertise Econogy concept worldwide. In addition, there
were two guided Econogy Tours of exhibitors who passed the independent sustainability
verification, while Econogy Finder allowed buyers to easily discover the fair’s eco-focused
suppliers.
Exhibiting within the Econogy Hub, Mr Marc Sidler, Group CMO at Testex AG, noted:“Intertextile is the most important apparel fabrics fair on the planet. This fair has got muchgreener, you can also see that at our booth, it’s also become more professional and moredigital. What has not changed is the interaction between human beings, this is what fairs
are for – we are all social creatures, we want to interact, we want to talk, we want to explore
our friendship. There has been strong visitor interest in Made in Green, it’s our mostsustainable product where you can really see the transparency of the supply chain towards
the end consumer.”

2 Making its 21st appearance as the Japan Pavilion, although JFW’s pavilions have been present at Intertextile in some form
for 21 years.

Within the fringe programme, other overarching topics included global and regional market
insights, including a panel discussion organised by AFTEX on textile investment
opportunities in the ASEAN region; digital innovations, featuring seminars from Avery
Dennison, Shima Seiki, Symmpix, and more; and various theme and trend discussions fromthe likes of Pantone and WGSN related to upcoming fashion seasons.
Participating as an exhibitor and as part of the fair’s fringe programme, Mr Herman Chan,
General Manager of Symmpix, said: “The introduction of the new Digital Solutions Zone,
and the Digital Solutions Exploration Space aligns perfectly with our company’s
development direction. This is an excellent platform to connect, start conversations, andbuild relationships with industry players, and for showcasing our solutions to customers. On
the fair’s first day we have already welcomed many potential buyers who specificallyreached out to us, with the clear goal of finding digital solutions for their business.”
Exhibitors’ feedback"The show is not only a platform for seeking new opportunities or launching new products,
but also for promoting brands and communicating with the industry. Participating as apavilion is beneficial to our company, and also helps facilitate cooperation among ourclients and pavilion members. This year, our pavilion theme is "Accelerating Our Journey toDecarbonization". In addition to the main booth, we have also collaborated with theorganiser to replicate a corn field in Econogy Hub. This immersive experience has attracted
many curious viewers to learn about our bio-derived LYCRA® fibre, which could help us topromote new concepts.”
Mr Jason Wang, VP of Asia, Apparel, The LYCRA Company (organiser of The LYCRACompany Pavilion)“Intertextile Apparel has been very important for us since we started participating in 1998.
Cooperation within the textile industry is fundamental and this show created the firstconnections with all the Chinese customers. By concentrating Italian exhibitors in theMilano Unica Pavilion, international and domestic buyers know they can come here and findvarious products from Italy. Italy is well-known for its wool; we produce very high-quality,creative fabrics. The Chinese market is extremely important for us and has big potential,
therefore we would like to invest more in the future.”
Mr Federico Veronese, Sales Manager, E.Thomas S.p.A, Italy (exhibiting in the Milano
Unica Pavilion, receiver of 25-year participation award)
Visitors’ comments“This is my first visit to Intertextile Apparel, and my primary focus is to find eco-friendlyfabrics. I am glad that I’ve discovered some target products at the Lenzing and Sorona
Pavilions. It’s crucial for exhibitors to undergo the Econogy Check, as some of my clients
have told me they would do the independent test to verify the authenticity of green productsources. Having the Econogy Check would save us time and money while also building
trust among traders. I would say this fruitful trip is beyond my expectation.”
Mr Ricky Osborne, Managing Director, Jatu Clothing & PPE, Australia“This is our second time visiting this fair, and it offers us a lot of opportunities to connect
with international buyers and exhibitors. While our local market is moving towards
digitalisation, what the fair showcases is very innovative, and we can learn more about theupcoming global industry trends. We also hope to collaborate and engage more in thefringe programme next year to strengthen our connections with the internationalcommunity.”
Ms Aye Mi Shein, Managing Director, Myanmar Garment Manufacturers Association,Myanmar

Speakers’ insights“As AFTEX, we are very pleased that we were invited to attend Intertextile Apparel, wherewe are able to see more – what is available in the market, the innovation, the technology,and the trends. At the same time, we are giving our ASEAN members exposure at thisshow so that each country can present their capabilities and government incentives for
textile, apparel, and footwear. Each country has its own strength, from infrastructure, totransportation, to internal and export incentives. This fringe programme is helpful, because
you draw not just domestic but also international interest.”
Mr Albert Tan, Chairman, ASEAN Federation of Textile Industries (AFTEX) (speaker at
Textile Investment Opportunities in the ASEAN Region)“What we are trying to do here is to be at the forefront of sustainability, but not be soadvanced that we cater only to a niche market. Because if we want to change something,
we have to go for the broader perspective rather than just a specific offering, for example
exclusive organic cotton with advanced features. Our goal is to reach the mass market.
Exhibitors have understood the value of Econogy Finder, as it serves as an effective tool for
promoting themselves. Being included in the Finder is a significant advantage, and being
part of Econogy Talks or Econogy Tours adds even more value.”
Mr Karl Borgschulze, Managing Director, Consulting Service International Ltd. (hostof Econogy Tour)The fair is co-organised by Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd; the Sub-Council of Textile Industry,CCPIT; and the China Textile Information Centre. It took place alongside Yarn Expo
Autumn, CHIC and PH Value at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai),with the venue playing host to the entire apparel textile value chain. For more details on thisfair, please visit: www.intertextileapparel.com.
The next Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Autumn Edition will be held from 2 – 4
September 2025.
Other upcoming shows:
Vietnam International Trade Fair for Apparel, Textiles and Textile Technologies
26 – 28 February 2025, Ho Chi Minh City
Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Spring Edition / Intertextile Shanghai HomeTextiles – Spring Edition / Yarn Expo Spring
11 – 13 March 2025, Shanghai
Intertextile Shenzhen Apparel Fabrics / Yarn Expo Shenzhen
11 – 13 June 2024, Shenzhen (Futian)Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Autumn Edition / Yarn Expo Autumn
2 – 4 September 2024, Shanghai
Press information and photographic material:
https://intertextile-shanghai-apparel-fabricsautumn.hk.messefrankfurt.com/shanghai/en/press.html

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www.instagram.com/intertextileapparelYour contact:
Phoebe Chau
Phone: +852 2238 9941
phoebe.chau@hongkong.messefrankfurt.com
Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd
35/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 around € 609 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