Welcome to our interview with Ms. Wilmet Shea, General Manager of Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd. Today, we’ll delve into the exciting prospects of Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles 2024. We’ll explore what attendees can expect, the latest trends and innovations in home textiles, and how the event is addressing sustainability. Additionally, we’ll discuss the opportunities for networking and collaboration among industry professionals and how the event plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of the home textiles market.
Thank you for joining us, Ms. Shea. Let’s start with an overview of what attendees can expect at Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles 2024.
Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles is one of Asia’s major international home textile events, covering a comprehensive range of home and contract textiles and finished goods from both Chinese and overseas suppliers.
Celebrating 30 Years of Intertextile
With the ‘Intertextile’ brand present in the Chinese textile market since 1995, we are celebrating our 30th anniversary at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai this year, and we are happy to invite our guests from across the industry to join us for this special edition to witness the growth of the fair.
The 2023 edition attracted over 32,000 visitors from 96 countries and regions, and this year over 900 suppliers from 14 countries and regions will be showcasing their innovative products to global buyers from 14 – 16 August 2024.
Once again, the 100,000 sqm plus exhibition grounds will cover halls 5.1, 5.2, 6.1, and 6.2, including 3 country pavilions and zones, and 6 Chinese regional pavilions. To help buyers source conveniently, 14 centralised zones have been created for carpets, curtains, sun protection, leather, upholstery and other popular product groups. The fringe programme, focusing on different home textile hot topics, will also help fairgoers stay ahead of the curve. In addition to insightful presentations from key industry players, the trend display area and trend forum will spotlight the latest vogues.
As fair organisers, we are proud to have built up this effective trading platform for the home textile industry over three decades, and will continue to provide opportunities for our exhibitors and visitors to boost international business exchange
What are some of the latest trends and innovations in home textiles that will be highlighted at this year’s event?
As sustainability becomes more central to the modern business agenda, Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles 2024 will highlight this rising global trend within the industry. With a significant number of exhibitors showcasing eco-friendly products at their booths, sustainability will also be deeply rooted in the fair’s fringe programme.
Functional Products on Display
Functional products are also one of the on-display trends expected to be highly welcomed by buyers. Highlighted exhibitors including 3M, Flamaway (China) Company Limited, Foshan Shu Piaor Technology Co Ltd, YJ Flame Retardant Fabric Co Ltd and other brands will present their bedding, upholstery, curtain products, that provide extra benefits to improve comfort, safety, efficiency and ease of maintenance.
At this upcoming edition, we are also excited to debut the Carpets & Rugs Zone. Set to feature various related products, rising demand for these floor coverings has prompted the birth of this new zone.
How is Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles addressing sustainability and eco-friendly practices in the home textiles industry?
As part of our fringe programme, a Messe Frankfurt representative will explain the Texpertise Econogy concept, the combination of economy and ecology that represents the sustainability activities in the company’s Texpertise Network. The discussion will show how crucial sustainability is for the economic success of a business today, and indicate how fairgoers can benefit from such an approach.
In addition, a mixed group of international designers and manufacturers will take part in a special round table discussion exploring how to collaboratively overcome sustainability challenges. This is called Bridging Borders: A Designer x Producer Talk on Sustainability, as designers and suppliers often find themselves on opposite sides of the table due to different focuses and business interests. The discussion will identify practical, balanced strategies for products and manufacturing processes to be environmentally responsible, economically viable, and socially conscious.
Other eco-focused fringe events include conferences such as About Healing and Sustainable Fibre Forum, while 3M, Advansa, Indorama and other key green producers using our product presentation format to introduce their latest eco innovations.
Based on your observations, what are the key market trends driving the home textiles industry in Asia and globally?
With the same keyword embedded across different aspects of this edition, sustainability is proving to be the dominant trend, not only for the home textile industry, but also for the global textile supply chain as a whole.
Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles: Sustainability and Green Innovations
In order to help industry players adapt to this development, Texpertise Econogy, and sustainability as a whole, will have key roles at this edition. Beyond the stage, a range of overseas and domestic exhibitors will showcase their green innovations at the fairground, such as Global Textile Alliance Belgium NV, Hangzhou Longshi Textile Co Ltd, Kucukcalik Tekstil San Ve Tic Ltd Sti, Mobus Fabrics Ltd, Zhangjiagang Coolist Life Technology Co Ltd and many more.
In addition to being greener, consumers are now willing to spend more money to enjoy more comfort and wellness at home, increasing demand for high quality and functional home textile products. For the new generation, textiles are not just decorative elements but pivotal components contributing to consumers’ well-being. Therefore, some of the latest textile innovations are created to enhance the living environment, where every thread and weave contributes to a holistic sense of health.
With over 1,000 exhibitors in 2023, what kinds of companies and products can attendees look forward to seeing in 2024?
The fair covers the full spectrum of home textile products and finished goods, including bedding & towelling, rugs, table & kitchen linen, upholstery & curtain fabrics, editors, home textile technologies, textile design and many more. Buyers will be able to source from a wide selection of exhibits to fulfill their various needs.
An extensive list of Chinese manufacturers will showcase valued products from all categories at this Shanghai stage, the gateway to Asia’s home living. Once again, the Türkiye Pavilion and Belgium Zone will return to present various product series from premium brands, alongside multiple standalone international exhibitors.
Well-known suppliers including Love Home Fabrics (Belgium), KOTAS (Türkiye), KUCUKCALIK TEKSTIL (Türkiye) and WEAVERS TEKSTİL (Türkiye) will be joining these two special zones. Organised by Trade Development Company JSC, a newly introduced Uzbekistan Pavilion will also showcase locally distinctive products.
For highlighted international exhibitors, you will be able to find European brands such as Advansa Marketing GmbH (Germany), Elastron Group (Portugal), Mobus Fabrics Ltd (UK), and Prestigious Textiles (UK) at the fair. Suppliers from the Americas including Raffinato (USA) and Morgan Fabrics Corporation (USA) will exhibit, while Asian suppliers such as IL JEONG INDUSTRIAL Co Ltd (Korea), Kageyama & Co Ltd (Japan) and Textile Depo Co Ltd (Japan) will also showcase their latest products.
What efforts are being made to enhance the visitor experience this year, particularly for international guests?
Due to several visa-free policies in place, we are expecting to see more international and domestic players visit and engage in business exchange during the industry’s peak sourcing season this autumn.
Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles: Global Buyer Engagement Efforts
We have made significant efforts to invite buyers from all over the world. In addition to numerous Chinese visiting groups, this edition will welcome 11 international buyer delegations from 15 countries and regions. These include manufacturers, designers, buying houses, distributors, chain stores and retailers from India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Maghreb, Moldova, Myanmar, Philippines, Russia, Thailand, Vietnam and more.
Our support to buyers ranges from pre-show visa facilitation, to travel and accommodation allowances, to onsite assistance and various fringe events and themed tours. With so much to discover, our visitors will be able to experience an all-encompassing sourcing journey at Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles – so far, 2,047 buyers from 75 countries and regions have already pre-registered for the show.
Adding to the highlights, we have provided a business matching programme for our buyers to efficiently source from suitable exhibitors. Based on the requirements and product interests provided by the participating buyer, we will help arrange onsite meetings to connect the different parties.
Can you tell us more about the fringe programme and how it adds value to the event for industry professionals?
As another highlight for our comprehensive platform, business exchange at the fair will be once again be supplemented by multiple concurrent events, for home textile players to learn more about the latest industry innovations and upcoming design trends. As mentioned, sustainability is threaded throughout our fringe programme, but there are many more topics for fairgoers to unravel.
Under the four main themes of Design Inspiration, Business O2O, Textiles & Technologies and Industry Empowerment, over 30 fringe events, including forums, seminars, individual presentations, product launches, and networking events, will take place during the first two days of the fair.
Key industry experts will discuss topics ranging from design trends and strategies, to green talks, industry challenges and solutions, and market updates.
In addition, to help home textile players set the tone and direction for the upcoming business season, Trends 2025 will be presented under the theme of ‘Healing Home – Spaces for Thriving Living’. This is an exciting collaboration with the leading Danish trend agency SPOTT trends & business, to mark the paths ahead for the evolving sector.
This year’s concept conveys the idea of a home that promotes a remedial, prosperous lifestyle, improving peoples’ general health and well-being, with eight key trend directions and five key colours highlighted in the trend guide. Fairgoers will be able to better visualise these vogues through a trend presentation and guided tour of the designated display area, hosted by the Founder and Creative Director of SPOTT trends & business, Ms Anja Bisgaard Gaede.
Focusing on design trend topics related to sustainability, Mr Shen Lei, Founder and Design Director of Interior Architects Design and the Chinese representative of the Intertextile International Lifestyle Trend Committee, will also be very involved this year. He will lead a panel of industry experts and designers, for another featured panel discussion to share valuable trend insights at the InterDesign Forum. Ms Anja Bisgaard Gaede will join them, adding an international perspective to the table.
What opportunities will there be for networking and collaboration among industry professionals at the event?
Our buyers will be able to directly connect with and source from hundreds of quality international and domestic exhibitors from different product sectors along the supply chain, providing a valuable and business-friendly face-to-face networking opportunity. We are looking forward to welcoming wholesalers, designers, architects, manufactures, retailers, representatives from trading companies, e-commerce stores, as well as franchisees and chain stores to our integrated platform.
Furthermore, the highly rated business matching service will help facilitate the interconnection between businesses and their targeted suppliers and clients, enabling seamless, efficient trade. Industry players are also invited to join the interactive fair and trend tours, and networking sessions that allow them to gain more insights on both this edition’s opportunities and those in the general market.
Looking ahead, how do you see the home textiles market evolving, and what role will Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles play in shaping its future?
Although the general business environment is still recovering, we think the home textile industry outlook is still positive. Especially in China, which has, by utilising advanced technologies and abundant resources, earned its global reputation as one of the major manufacturing hubs for home textile products.
Booming Chinese Textile Market
Chinese home textile exports reached over USD 10.4 billion in the first quarter of 2024, a year-on-year increase of 3.1%. On the other hand, the country’s huge population, coupled with its increasing per capita textile consumption and home renovation projects, is providing a plethora of business opportunities for international suppliers to further discover.
We hope this Shanghai fair can serve as an all-in-one sourcing hub and the ultimate gateway for global suppliers to capitalise on new opportunities. In order to help the industry maximise potential business opportunities in this market, we have created a well-rounded platform to integrate resources and gather key players from the entire industry chain. As mentioned before, we are actively facilitating business exchange across multiple categories, including innovative and sustainable products and services, helping propel the industry towards a green, prosperous future.
