Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Autumn Edition 2026 is set to open on 25 August at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), bringing together global apparel textile manufacturers, suppliers, buyers and industry professionals for three days of sourcing, networking, trend forecasting and business exchange.
Covering 240,000 sqm, the 2026 Autumn Edition will feature more than 3,500 exhibitors from 30 countries and regions, offering visitors access to products and solutions spanning the apparel textile value chain. This edition places particular emphasis on performance textiles, sustainable materials, fashion trends and digital innovation, reflecting the industry’s evolving sourcing and production priorities.
The fair is organised around four key pillars: Fashion Forward, Performance Textiles, Sustainability and Textile Future. These focus areas are designed to connect buyers with trend-driven materials, high-performance textile technologies, sustainable solutions and digitally enabled products.
“As global supply chains continue to evolve, the apparel textile industry is seeking solutions that combine creativity, functionality, sustainability, and efficiency,” said Ms Wilmet Shea, General Manager of Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd. “Organised around four key pillars – Fashion Forward, Performance Textiles, Sustainability, and Textile Future – this edition better connects buyers with trend-led, high-performance, circular, and digitally enabled solutions, enabling them to properly respond to market shifts and capture new opportunities from a comprehensive range of suppliers.”
Strong International Participation Expands Sourcing Opportunities
International participation remains a major feature of the Autumn Edition, with country and regional pavilions representing Hong Kong, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan and Türkiye, alongside the France Zone.
New exhibiting countries including Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Malaysia, Nigeria, Norway, Sweden and Thailand will further broaden sourcing opportunities for international buyers.
First-time international exhibitors include Duraflex USA, showcasing plastic buckles and functional accessories; the Egyptian Cotton Association, presenting premium cotton materials; Kaneka from Japan, featuring Kanecaron® and Protex® modacrylic fibres; and Starich Recycling Technology from Nigeria, specialising in advanced plastic recycling solutions.
Functional Lab Highlights Next-Generation Performance Textiles
Performance textiles will receive greater attention through the upgraded Functional Lab, developed to showcase materials combining functionality, comfort and sustainability.
At the heart of the zone is The CUBE, a dedicated display area featuring high-performance textiles and accessories covering areas such as thermal regulation, comfort, moisture management, protection and sustainable materials.
Featured exhibitors include Burlington, which will present technical synthetic fabric solutions for medical and cleanroom environments as well as cotton-free denim fabrics; EMS-GRILTECH, showcasing high-performance synthetic fibres for advanced textile applications; and LOXY AS, offering reflective tapes, seam sealing tapes and bonding films designed for waterproofing, visibility and durability.
Prutex, collaborating with INVISTA, will also highlight its PRUTAC® high-performance nylon 66 made with INVISTA Nylon 6,6 polymer, targeting durability and skin-friendly comfort for premium activewear and next-to-skin garments.
Performance sourcing will be further supported by eight dedicated group pavilions. Suppliers at The LYCRA Company pavilion will showcase solutions including COOLMAX CloakFX™ fibre, LYCRA® FiT400™ fibre and Renewable LYCRA® fibre, addressing applications related to comfort, durability and bio-derived stretch.
Fashion Trends and Sustainable Solutions Take Centre Stage
Under the Fashion Forward pillar, the Intertextile Directions Trend Forum will present the Autumn/Winter 2027-28 theme “A QUEST FOR ESSENCE”, featuring fabrics and accessories from specialised areas including Beyond Denim, Functional Lab and the Premium Wool Zone.
The Accessories Vision showcase will add further focus to fashion accessories and advanced solutions, featuring exhibitors such as Notape International and Bostik.
Sustainability will be represented through the dedicated Econogy Hub, where buyers can use the Econogy Finder to identify verified sustainable suppliers. The accompanying Econogy Talk and Econogy Tour will provide opportunities to explore sustainable alternatives and discuss the transition away from petroleum-based products.
Meanwhile, the Innovation & Digital Solutions Zone will showcase digital product development tools, AI-powered technologies and supply chain optimisation solutions under the Textile Future pillar.
Following its successful debut at the Spring Edition, the Pet Boutique will also make its first appearance at the Autumn Edition, expanding into functional lifestyle applications and apparel solutions for pets.
Industry Programme Covers Trends, Climate Adaptation and Traceability
Beyond the exhibition floor, the fair’s fringe programme will provide insights into fashion forecasting, technical textiles, sustainability and emerging technologies.
The Intertextile Directions Trends Autumn/Winter 2027-28 programme will explore the three key themes of “A QUEST FOR ESSENCE”, with MUSEATIVE Creative Director Mr Kai Chow presenting the trends through seminars and Trend Forum Tours.
The session “Climate-adaptive Textiles for a Changing Future” will examine developments in climate-adaptive fibres and fabrics, bringing together experts from BetterTex, LYCRA and Nice Dyeing. The programme is co-organised by the Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA).
Another key session, “Transitioning to Sustainable Preferred Production Systems”, co-organised by Textile Exchange, will examine sustainability initiatives and preferred production systems with participation from experts representing UNIFI, Birla Cellulose, Circ Inc, SynMetabio Technology (Hangzhou) and Fujian Cyclone Technology.
The panel “From Source to End: Rebuilding the Global Trust Chain of China’s Textile Industry”, organised in partnership with a&s, will examine traceability and compliance through technologies including DNA physical traceability, AI efficiency standards and digital certification.
Buyer Delegations Strengthen International Business Matching
The Autumn Edition will also place strong emphasis on facilitating direct business connections between exhibitors and buyers.
The fair’s business matching programme will connect exhibitors with approximately 50 VIP buyers from 14 countries and regions, including Australia, Brazil, India, Korea, Spain, the UAE, the UK and the US. Around 330 pre-scheduled business matching meetings are planned according to buyers’ sourcing requirements and exhibitors’ product offerings.
In addition, nine international buyer delegations, representing approximately 180 delegates, will attend guided tours and dedicated matching sessions. Participating markets include Bangladesh, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Türkiye and Vietnam.
Domestic buyer matching will also be available, while the Connect PLUS online platform will enable exhibitors and buyers to maintain engagement before, during and after the fair.
Intertextile Autumn Edition 2026 to Run Alongside Major Textile Shows
Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Autumn Edition 2026 is co-organised by Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, the Sub-Council of Textile Industry, CCPIT, and the China Textile Information Center.
The event will take place from 25–27 August 2026 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), alongside Yarn Expo Autumn, CHIC and PH Value, creating a comprehensive sourcing environment covering the wider apparel and textile value chain.
The fair is expected to provide international buyers and textile professionals with opportunities to discover emerging materials, performance technologies, sustainable solutions, fashion directions and digital innovations while strengthening connections across global sourcing markets.
