China, August 23, 2024. Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles has closed its doors at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) after commemorating 30 years of actively advancing the country’s home and contract textile business. Over 35,000 visitors from 108 nations and regions interacted with 946 exhibitors from 15 countries and regions during the two days of August 14–16, when Asia’s premier industrial platform was housed in a 100,000 square meter, four-hall venue. The total number of visitors rose by 10% from the previous edition, with 13% of those being foreign buyers, underscoring the global nature of the exhibition. Global industry participants expressed their delight with the event’s constructive business interaction, the abundance of sustainable products and creative inspiration, among other things. These participants ranged from suppliers and buyers to fringe speakers.
The general manager of Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd., Ms. Wilmet Shea, commented at the end of the show about the favorable trade atmosphere at this edition, saying, “For our 30th anniversary, the fairground was overflowing with dynamic interactions from enthusiastic industry players.” It gave me great pleasure to see so many familiar faces at the exhibition, especially those who have followed our fair’s expansion from 123 exhibitors at the inaugural cross-sector Intertextile fair to around 1,000 exhibitors in the home textile sector alone this year. In order to serve both domestic and foreign visitors from the industry, the fair now has 14 product zones with a wide range of products. We anticipate fresh chapters throughout the ensuing decades as we stay up with the expectations of our customers and the ever-evolving market.
Worldwide marketplace for establishing relationships
Major industry players from the East and West are connected through Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles, an inclusive business platform made possible by Messe Frankfurt’s robust network throughout the worldwide industry. With the Türkiye Pavilion, Uzbekistan Pavilion, Belgium Zone, and several other foreign exhibitors, the stage was set for suppliers looking to establish commercial relationships in the world’s foremost center for textile production.
In Halls 5.1, 5.2, 6.1, and 6.2, local and foreign exhibitors specializing in bedding, editors, curtains, and carpets showcased their most recent creations and advancements. Among the standout exhibitors were Zhejiang Maya Fabric Co Ltd, Zhejiang Xiaoxuanchuang Household Co Ltd, Weavers Tekstil San Ve Tic A S, HAINING QIANBAIHUI WEAVING CO LTD, and 3M China Limited.
Ms Ying Gao, General Manager of Beijing Ya Da Home Decoration Articles Co Ltd, stated: “We have participated at this international event almost every year.” The Editors Zone has high-end upholstery textiles, wallcoverings, and bedding. We were happy that the organizers invited numerous delegations of foreign buyers to celebrate the 30th anniversary, since it allowed us to meet more esteemed clientele. This event provides us with a great platform to present our most recent goods, services, and innovations, but it also presents a significant chance to discuss potential new business partnerships with current clients. Additionally, we want to learn more about the dynamics of the industry and emerging technology developments so that we may modify our plans and keep our brand at the forefront of the market.
17 buyer delegations from 16 different countries and regions pre-registered and visited the sourcing platform, making up a significant portion of the fair’s large visitor count. These delegations included manufacturers, designers, buying houses, distributors, chain stores, and retailers from Algeria, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Moldova, Morocco, Myanmar, Philippines, Russia, Thailand, Vietnam, and more. Not to add, the platform was used by VIP buyers from around the globe to reach yearly sourcing goals.
Enduring VIP customer The South African director of Hertex, Ms. June da Silva, provided an update on the state of the show, saying, “I’m representing Hertex at Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles for the 19th or 20th time. The prices are still reasonable; the greatest advancements have been in product quality and communication; and the exhibitors consistently use color creatively and forward-thinkingly. Approximately 70% of our goods is imported directly from China or through Europe. This show is crucial and has grown in significance over time as one of our top picks for global sourcing.
Sustainability is a key component of the success of Fair
The platform is always changing in order to keep up with market trends, and one of its main future goals is to promote green progress. Therefore, a number of sustainability-related events were featured in this edition’s extensive fringe program, including Bridging Borders: A Designer x Producer Talk on Sustainability, About Healing, Sustainable Fibre Forum in Home Textiles, product presentations from fiber producers like 3M, Advansa, and Indorama, and a special session explaining the Econogy concept, which stands for sustainability activities in the company’s Texpertise Network. In order to broaden the conversation, the program invited designers and special guests from Europe and the Middle East.
Under the umbrella of the “Healing Home” trend concept, Ms. Anja Bisgaard Gaede, CEO of SPOTT trends & business, emphasized the ecological aspects: “As a trend designer, I looked at what is important for the industry and for me personally.” Because they have the potential to significantly alter the way textiles are made, I believe that Bio-engineered Innovations and Circular Systems are the two most important of the eight major trend directions. Furthermore, sustainability is a key component of both of them as well as Regenerative Possibilities, which is how the sector must advance going forward. China is a major textile producer, therefore there is undoubtedly room for increased producer-designer cooperation.
The Ikasas Japanese Home Design Gallery, which has grown to include five furniture brands that incorporate sustainability into their distinctive yet useful items, was another highlight of the event. At a show that is keeping up with the times, other environmentally conscious providers from a variety of product categories, including Global Textile Alliance Belgium NV, Hangzhou Longshi Textile Co Ltd, Mobus Fabrics Ltd, and Zhangjiagang Coolist Life Technology Co Ltd, displayed their most recent developments.
“Previously, only about 10% of our Japanese customers were looking for these products, but now 50% to 60% of our customers have such demands,” said Mr. Runhao Ma, General Manager of Overseas Sales & Production Dept. of Toyo Orimono Co Ltd., a returning Japanese exhibitor. Our company uses water-saving dyeing techniques and yarns derived from recycled PET bottles; half of the yarns are made from environmentally friendly sources. We keep exhibiting here since it’s one of the top international exhibitions in China for reaching out to both domestic and foreign buyers. I think there are more people this year as the fair approaches its 30th anniversary.We had already established contact with over 60 groups of highly interested buyers on the first day.
Experiences of exhibitors
“We have Chinese consumers at Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles, as well as customers from the US, Europe, the Middle East, and the Far East, including Taiwan and Vietnam. There are more foreign customers here than the last time, and this is a meeting place to discuss upcoming orders and new things. China has a huge market, and since we are Turkish, we have the advantage that our items are imported, which the market values highly.
Manager of Küçükçalık Tekstil Sanayi ve Ticarat A.S. in Turkey, Mr. Mehmet Oztoprak
“The show is even better this year than it was last year.” We came here to establish connections with new customers, and we have already met many of the Chinese clientele we were targeting. Our designers perused the show’s trend guide before to attending to determine whether we might connect our offerings to those themes, as some attendees may be on the lookout for such connections. The fact that this global forum unites the East and the West makes me delighted. Due to China’s visa-free policies, more people from more countries can now attend, which increases the number of guests. Absolutely, I’ll be there for the upcoming version.
International Sales Manager at Tela’s Design in Portugal, Mr. Ricardo Marques
Comments from visitors
“The hotel and hospitality industries, which need textile products like curtains, bedding, and more, are our company’s primary focus. This time, I’m specifically seeking for outdoor textiles that go with our most recent projects involving outdoor furniture. Good-quality goods at extremely affordable costs can be found at this fair. My interactions with the exhibitors yielded comprehensive technical details that proved invaluable for my sourcing needs. In order to interact more directly with exhibitors with those demands, I want to return the following year with more detailed product requirements for our hotel projects.
The President of the Thai Furniture Association is Mr. Jirawat Tangkijngamwong, Deputy Managing Director of Deesawat Industries Co Ltd. in Thailand.
Views from participants in the fringe program
“The address centered on three major projects that highlight innovative uses of textiles, as well as Gensler’s numerous sustainability initiatives and programs. Irrespective of the subject matter, these kinds of events are excellent in and of themselves because of the opportunities and interactions they present for manufacturing. It’s fantastic to see how some manufacturers are utilizing the sustainability theme imaginatively on the fairground, and some of their stands are particularly eye-catching.
Speaker: Weaving Paths to Sustainability and the Importance of Textiles in Interior Design; Mr. Saverio Quaia, Senior Interior Designer, Gensler
Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd., the China Home Textile Association (CHTA), and the Sub-Council of Textile Industry, CCPIT, are the organizers of Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles – Autumn Edition.
