With less than three months to go before the most influential textile fair for the spring / summer season opens its doors on 16 March. More than 3,000 apparel fabrics and accessories suppliers from 20-plus countries are expected to participate at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) during the fair, which will occupy a gross area of 156,000 sqm. To ensure exhibitors can more effectively meet their target buyers, and to make sure these buyers can more easily find the products they are looking for, a number of country and region pavilions will feature, as well as new and returning product zones:

SalonEurope: premium products from Europe’s top suppliers can be found here, as well as country pavilions and the Milano Unica Pavilion • Premium Wool Zone: high-end wool and cashmere fabrics from France, Italy the UK and elsewhere • Verve for Design: the industry’s best studios from Europe and Asia present their creative pattern design ideas • Beyond Denim: this uniquely designed area will feature the latest in denim products and trends • All About Sustainability: the entire textile sustainability supply chain will be on offer thanks to a display area and educational zone • Functional Lab: a new area for the Spring Edition which caters to the fast-growing high-performance activewear market • Accessories Zone: both garment and fashion accessories from China and abroad are showcased

In addition to these areas, group pavilions organised by the industry’s leading mills will present the latest innovative products, while domestic exhibitors will once again be grouped by product end-use as well as in various pavilions. These include the China Bast and Leaf Fibres Textile Association Pavilion, and pavilions from Wujiang Shengze, Huzhou (for silk), Haining (for warp knits), Hangzhou Xiaoshan, Wuzhou Pingwan and Changle.

Further opportunities for exhibitors and buyers with fringe programme and four concurrent fairs

As one of the key dates on the global industry’s calendar, Intertextile Shanghai is more than just a place to source fabrics and accessories. Fairgoers can discover next season’s trends in the Intertextile Directions Trend Forum, which is created by experts from the NellyRodi™ Agency (France), Elementi Moda (Italy) and Doneger Creative Services (USA), as well as Ms Sachiko Inoue (Japan). What’s more, a wide range of design and trend ideas, the latest market news as well as industry technologies will be presented and discussed by experts in seminars and forums.

Further opportunities also present themselves for exhibitors and buyers with four other textile fairs taking place concurrently. This includes the addition of Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles – Spring Edition, and the return of Yarn Expo Spring, CHIC and PH Value.

Extra services offered to increase convenience for participants

The increased focus on product zones is not the only effort the organisers are placing on ensuring exhibitors and buyers have a positive experience at the fair. New restaurants and cafes offering Asian & Western cuisines will be open by March, while charging areas have been setup around the fairground to recharge electronic devices. Cloak rooms will provide storage for clothing and luggage, while relaxation zones offer complimentary shoulder massages. And a free shuttle bus service will connect seven hotels in the area with the fairground. More details can be found on the fair’s website.

Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Spring Edition 2016 is co-organised by Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd; the Sub-Council of Textile Industry, CCPIT; and the China Textile Information Centre.