Looking back at 25 successful years and forecasting exciting trends: Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics will be celebrating its 25th anniversary at this year’s Autumn Edition from 25 to 27 September 2019 and inspiring the apparel industry with its trends for Autumn/Winter 20/21.
What began in 1995 with 123 exhibitors and 7,000 buyers has now become a steadily growing global flagship of the apparel industry: the recent Spring Edition 2019 of Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics welcomed 3,278 exhibitors and 94,661 visitors from more than 110 countries and regions, thus achieving a 15% increase on the previous year’s visitor numbers. The Autumn Edition 2019 of Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics also has plenty to celebrate: for a quarter of a century now the trade show has provided a place to create valuable new contacts and open up new market potentials, without losing sight of the pressing issues of the present or the future. One major contributing factor is the Directions Trend Committee: founded in 1998, it established the Trend Guide and the associated Forum which since then have provided designers and apparel specialists with a valuable research and marketing tool for the upcoming fashion season. From 25 to 27 September 2019 the Intertextile Directions Trend Forum, part of the trade show’s supporting programme, will give trade visitors insights into the trends for Autumn/Winter 20/21.
The Directions Trend Committee has specified the trend theme: ‘Human ≒ Tech’. This focuses on the synergy between the sense of self and innovative technology, reflects today’s transformative era and highlights the fashions industry’s responsibility to cut waste and create a sustainable future. The theme is split into four sub-categories. Sense-Ability means sensual fabrics that fuse chemistry and nature, coarser textures and subdued colours in fabrics such as gauze, fairy wool, velour, velvet and organic silk. Electro-Tonic takes a different direction with bold designs in dynamic and technical fabrics including triacetate, cupro, eco- nylon and organic wool, combined with a palette of vivid tones. Know-How focus on comfort and functionality with fabrics that are sustainable, recycled or re-used, nostalgia-inspired and handcrafted, including felted wool, jersey jacquard, eco-suede and soft tweed. Re-Make is practical, functional and sporty, with a focus on the evolution of traditional materials.
As the Intertextile Directions Trend Guide demonstrates, sustainability must become the norm for the fashion industry of the future. Performance and sustainability will be key to meeting the demands of today’s competition-intensive textile market. The trade show’s All About Sustainability product zone made its debut in 2013 and has expanded rapidly since then in line with the market demand for innovation in China. Highlights in this product zone during the recent Spring Edition included the textile innovator Paradise Textiles of Taiwan, who presented the patent-pending biodegradable polyester Biofuze, Mitsubishi Chemical of Japan with Soalon, the world’s only triacetate filament yarn, and the food textiles of textile Industry expert Toyoshima, which converts food waste into natural dyes.
With the Trend Forum, the competition China International Fabrics Design & Fabrics Creation and seminars and panel discussion on major industry topics, the 25th Autumn Edition provides inspiration for the new season. The Autumn Edition of Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics is organised by Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, the Sub-Council of Textile Industry (CCPIT) and the China Home Textile Association (CHTA). The trade show will take place from 25 to 27 September 2019 at the National Exhibition and Congress Center in Shanghai at the same time as the trade shows Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles, Yarn Expo Spring, PH Value and CHIC.
