With many overseas exhibitors looking to take advantage of the burgeoning regional textiles market at Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Spring Edition 2015, a number of country and region pavilions from Asia feature at the fair. This year sees returning pavilions from Japan, Korea, Pakistan and Taiwan, as well as the Texprocil Pavilion from India. These are in addition to the recently announced Portugal Pavilion, Germany and France zones, and Milano Unica Pavilion from Italy which also feature this year.

The fair takes place at a brand-new venue for the first time, the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), and will double in size compared to last year’s Spring Edition to around 100,000 sqm. The aforementioned pavilions will be located in the International Zone in hall 7.2. More than 2,000 exhibitors are expected to take part in the fair, a more than 35% increase compared to 2014.

Japan Pavilion returns to Spring Edition while Korea Pavilion nearly doubles in size

After an absence in recent years, the Japan Pavilion returns to the 2015 Spring Edition, and follows a very successful participation at last year’s autumn fair. The pavilion will feature around 20 exhibitors and is organised by Japan Fashion Week Organization. The Korea Pavilion also returns after appearing at both editions of the fair in 2014. Over 90 exhibitors will feature this year, and will showcase a wide range of man-made and functional fabrics. Organised by the Korea Fashion Textile Association (KFTA), the exhibition space will expand by nearly 50% compared to last year. Mr Yoon Young Sang, Vice President of KFTA, explained: “The Korea Pavilion will offer buyers a variety of trendy fabrics for men’s and women’s formal, casual and sportswear which have excellent quality for their price. Our functional fabrics in particular are receiving a lot of attention from worldwide buyers.”

Taiwan, Pakistan and Texprocil Pavilions also feature again

Taiwan suppliers have a strong reputation for quality and innovation, and around 50 exhibitors in this year’s Taiwan Pavilion will display their latest accessories, cotton, denim, embroidery, jacquard, knit, lace, polyester, spandex, wool blends and woven fabrics which are suitable for a wide range of uses, from mass to luxury markets.

“Intertextile Shanghai is now considered by Taiwan companies as one of the must-attend textile shows, hence the Taiwan Pavilion has grown to be one of the largest at the fair,” Ms Jane Fang, Project Manager of pavilion organiser the Taiwan Textile Federation commented. “As more exhibitors have joined, we now offer a much wider range of fashionable, functional, ecological and innovative fabrics and accessories.”

Shifting the focus to South Asia, this year’s Pakistan Pavilion will feature seven exhibitors, dedicated to cotton fabrics for casual wear and jeanswear. The pavilion is organised by the Commercial Section of the Embassy of Pakistan. India is represented by the Texprocil Pavilion, organised by The Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council, and will showcase a wide range of cotton fabrics and yarn.

Four concurrent textile industry events also take place at the same venue. Yarn Expo Spring, PH Value (previously known as the China International Knitting Trade Fair) and CHIC, the 23rd China International Fashion Fair, will also run from 18 – 20 March, while Planet Textiles 2015: The Sustainable Textile Event will be held on 19 March.