Intertextile Shenzhen confirmed as the industry’s leading fair in Southern China
Southern China’s leading apparel fabrics and accessories fair, Intertextile Pavilion Shenzhen, successfully concluded earlier this month
A total of 667 exhibitors from eight countries and regions (2014: 674) took part in the fair which was held at the Shenzhen Convention & Exhibition Center from 9 – 11 July. Exhibitors showcased a wide selection of high-quality ladies wear, casual wear and suiting fabrics, as well as the latest knits, lace and embroidery, yarns and fibres, and accessories across 30000 m2 (2014: 30000). The fair attracted 14855 buyers from 26 countries and regions (2014: 17522).
Ms Wendy Wen, Senior General Manager of Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, explained that the drop in this year’s visitor number was likely due to Typhoon Linfa which struck the city on the first day of the fair and disrupted many participants’ travel plans. “Despite the lower visitor figure due to the adverse weather, we feel that overall the fair can be considered a success due to the quality of buyers that attended. We saw a large number of buyers from leading local brands visit the fair, as well as those from renowned European and American garment labels that have buying offices in nearby Hong Kong. This shows that quality buyers regard this fair as the leading event on the Southern China apparel fabrics and accessories industry calendar.”
Following the final edition of Interstoff Asia Essential in Hong Kong last year, Intertextile Pavilion Shenzhen is now seen by many in the industry as the ideal replacement, with a number of Hong Kong buying offices attending such as Crocodile, Diesel, G2000, Initial, Miss Sixty, Mothercare, Pepe Jeans London, Replay, s.Oliver and Zara. Big-name Chinese brands also see the fair as the region’s leading event to source quality apparel fabrics and accessories, with the likes of BBLLUUEE, INSUN and Urban Revivo attending.
Exhibitors were impressed by the high quality of buyers such as these that visited their booths. Mr C.L Wu from Fabrix Plus, a denim and functional fabrics manufacturer from Taiwan said: “I’m very impressed by the domestic buyers’ quality. They’re very clear about what they are looking for and make decisions quickly, so it is easier for us to do business with them.”
Mr Ryu Hong-Ku, General Manager of Korea Textile Center was also pleased to meet quality buyers. He said: “We have had a number of serious and genuine buyers visit our booth.” Mr Ryu also believes the fair is the ideal place to capture the opportunities in the south of China, explaining: “The fair is definitely an effective platform for us to present new products and to target the Southern China market. We will return to the fair next year.”
Despite the slower economy in the country as a whole, exhibitors are still optimistic about the potential in the Southern China market. “We have been participating in this fair for four to five years, and although the economy is not as bright as before, we still have faith in this part of the country, and believe that there are still many opportunities for us to explore,” said Mr Jason Kuo, Head of Sales of Royal Maye Chie Ent. Inc, a Taiwan high-end embroidery manufacturer. Also from Taiwan, Unitex Material Corp’s Mr Joseph Chang revealed: “We’re very positive about the Southern China textile market. The ample potential that is here will continue to grow for at least 10 more years. This region contains the whole supply chain, so without a doubt, the market here will keep getting better.”
Ms Chen Xiao Yan from Uni Textil Inc, a Japanese ladieswear fabrics manufacturer, shared the same sentiment. “Being in this market for many years, I can see the demand for overseas fabrics continues to increase, and we believe this demand will keep growing for the next few years. Intertextile Shenzhen is the best platform for us to meet new clients, so we will be back for sure.”
Tommy Yong from Hong Kong accessories manufacturer Zeng Cheng Industrial Co Ltd expressed his positive insight about the Southern China market. He said: “Because the European market is weaker, my company has shifted our focus to this region of China. We realise that this market is really big and contains extensive opportunities. If I can capture only 1% of the market share, then it’s already enough.”
The organiser of the Taiwan pavilion, Taiwan Textile Federation (TTF), also explained the advantages they saw in Southern China. “China’s current economic plan is focused on developing this market,” Mr Arthur Chiang said. “The market here is huge and the potential will continue to get bigger. It is going to bring numerous opportunities to our suppliers, so many of our exhibitors see this fair as a stepping stone to capture the market opportunities and expand their business here.”
Many exhibitors at the fair confirmed that it was the right place to expand their business in the region. Mr Chang from Unitex Material Corp said: “Intertextile Shenzhen has been helping us to expand our business in Southern China, and it’s an important stepping stone for us to connect with new clients. This year, we met many ladieswear manufacturers and designers. The overall result is better than last year.” Korea’s Hyundai Chemical Co Ltd’s Overseas Sales Team Manager Mr Y.S. Jang agreed. “This fair is a good opportunity to approach the Chinese market as it gives you access to a good variety of buyers. We focus on the high end of the market as our fabrics have a higher quality than domestic suppliers, and there’s definitely a market here in China for these products.”
Mr Kuo from Royal Maye Chie explained the reasons for their continual participation in the fair, saying: “We already have a regular client pool here, and the fair is an ideal platform for us to meet them to maintain good relationships and explore new opportunities. Participating in Intertextile Shenzhen is one of the best ways to expand our presence here.” Exhibiting for the first time, Mr Yong from Zhen Cheng Industrial said he had already seen the advantages of the fair. “The convenient location, strong visitor flow and high quality of buyers make this fair the ideal platform to enter the Southern China market. This is the right place for me to seize the abundant opportunities on offer and expand my business.”
Visitors to the fair were not only impressed by the range of high quality products on offer, but many of them also expressed that they were pleased to find the latest trends through the products on display. Ms Lixin You, Logistics Manager of Shenzhen Mai Kew Anjia Co Ltd said: “This fair gathers a wide range of fabrics and accessories suppliers, so it helps me to get the latest market information. The product quantity and quality are also very impressive.”
Jason Chan, General Manager of Gino Design Ltd from Hong Kong was also inspired by the product variety. He said: “We came here to source fabrics for spring 2016, so it’s very inspiring to see the fabric designs from overseas suppliers. I also think that the range of products this fair offers is even more than similar fairs in Hong Kong, while the product quality here is much higher than last year.” Another Hong Kong buyer Mr Rodolphe Heller, Vice President of Brilliant Global Ltd agreed, stating: “We’re very happy with what’s on offer here and have found a lot of fabrics we could use to design garments. For example, we found some innovative Korean products that we really like. We’ve been looking at suppliers from Japan, China and Korea, and the range you have here is definitely good.”
Deputy General Manager of India’s Hayleys MGT Knitting Mills PLC, Mr Ajith Senaratne, found his visit rewarding, explaining: “Coming here, I have gotten inspiration to develop new products for our customers. This is a rewarding trip because I’ve seen some new trends and met many potential suppliers from China and other countries. They offer very high quality products at a good price. This is an excellent platform for us to explore the latest products and trends.” Mr Nolan Mecham from Saatu Apparel USA was also satisfied with the return from his sourcing trip. “It’s a good opportunity to meet Chinese suppliers, and they offer high quality products at a good price. We have been meeting many potential suppliers. Overall, we are very happy about the result of our trip.”
For the first time, a seminar programme was held alongside the fair. Experts from different sectors shared the latest industry updates on various themes, such as fashion trends, market information, branding strategies and more. Due to constant change in the global textile market, a seminar programme like the one held at the fair is beneficial for the entire industry, according to Mr Michael Leow, Hong Kong Marketing Head for Close-Up Fashion Publications. “China competes in a global world so there is a lot of potential for trends to be relevant here. And Western companies are shifting more onus for product development onto their suppliers to save costs, rather than doing it in-house, so companies that can provide their own designs have an advantage, hence a seminar programme like this is very useful.”
In addition, many audience members appreciated the expertise of the speakers and the content. Davis Wang, President of Huzhou Blossom Knitting Co Ltd, said: “As a fabrics and garments manufacturer, we need to develop new products every season. Therefore, this seminar is an excellent means to equip myself with the latest industry knowledge and new business strategies.” Ms Yan Jin, a Designer at Hangzhou RBCA Garment Co Ltd, also found the seminar fruitful, revealing: “It’s such a pleasure to have the opportunity to be taught by the industry’s experts as I have learned the latest fashion trends. The inspiration I gained here will be used in my future designs.”
The next Intertextile Pavilion Shenzhen will take place in mid-July, 2016 at the Shenzhen Convention & Exhibition Center again. The next Messe Frankfurt apparel fabrics and accessories fair in China is Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Autumn Edition 2015 which will be held in Shanghai from October 13 – 15, 2015.