A legacy of excellence: building the fourth decade of Intertextile Apparel
The 2024 Autumn Edition marked the show’s 30th anniversary by drawing nearly 4,000 exhibitors from 26 countries and regions, and welcoming over 100,000 visitors, with international visitors up 29%[1]. This momentum carried into 2025’s Spring Edition, hosting nearly 95,000 visitors from 131 countries and regions, a 17% rise[2].
Ms Wilmet Shea, General Manager of Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, emphasised the fair’s continued importance: “Decade-to-decade, Intertextile’s growth reflects its unmatched ability to connect global suppliers with forward-thinking buyers. While the current market is filled with uncertainties and headwinds, the increasing international scope of the fair presents enhanced business opportunities across the entire textile value chain. Our focus on innovation and the latest design trends underscores our commitment to sustainability and digital transformation, ensuring we are well-prepared for what’s next. This is true across the fairground, with featured zones such as the Digital Solutions Zone, Premium Wool Zone, and Verve for Design important avenues for buyers to stay updated and on-trend. Meanwhile, our Texpertise Econogy initiative has amplified our commitments to sustainability and digital transformation – both cornerstones of the industry’s future.”
As one of the industry’s largest sourcing platforms, Intertextile Apparel continues to anchor global trends through its diverse zones, including Accessories Vision, Beyond Denim, Functional Lab, and SalonEurope. The 2024 edition also debuted Econogy Hub, dedicated to sustainable solutions, and the Digital Solutions Zone, in response to rapid advancements in AI, blockchain, and IoT redefining supply chains – enhancing traceability, slashing waste through 3D virtual sampling, and optimising logistics via predictive analytics.
The Digital Solutions Zone and its related seminar category have subsequently emerged as key options for exhibitors like Quaternion, Shima Seiki, and Symmpix showcasing innovations such as AI-driven demand forecasting, 3D virtual sampling (reducing fabric waste by up to 30%), and digital product passports for ethical sourcing. Mr Herman Chan, General Manager of Symmpix, highlighted the zone’s impact: “This zone aligns perfectly with our direction. We connected with buyers seeking transformative tools – from generative AI for design to personalised production systems. On day one, we engaged clients eager to integrate these solutions into their businesses.”
Meanwhile, China’s ascent as a global leader in custom clothing production has fuelled demand for luxury fabrics, with individuals and brands increasingly prioritising unique, tailored garments that reflect personal style and craftsmanship. Capitalising on this trend, the previous Autumn Edition’s Premium Wool Zone – synonymous with heritage and excellence – and the Milano Unica Pavilion hosted 50 premium wool exhibitors within SalonEurope, including iconic names such as Abraham Moon & Sons (UK), Albini (Italy), Cavallo 1886 (Italy), and Scabal NV/SA (UK), showcasing their top-quality European cloth to meet the soaring demand from Chinese buyers.
Speaking at the same edition, Mr Federico Veronese, Sales Manager, E.Thomas S.p.A reflected on over 25 years of exhibiting: “Intertextile Apparel has been very important for us since we started participating in 1998. Cooperation within the textile industry is fundamental and this show created the first connections with all the Chinese customers. Italy is well-known for its wool; we produce very high-quality, creative fabrics. The Chinese market is extremely important for us and has big potential, therefore we would like to invest more in the future.”
The Premium Wool Zone is also moving with the times. With the newly-introduced Functional Suiting Display Area set to make its second appearance at this year’s Autumn Edition, exhibitors can further showcase related materials’ increasing potential and versatility.
In addition, Verve for Design, the hub for emerging trends in patterns and prints, has become a magnet for China’s thriving fashion scene, where fresh talent seeks distinctive patterns to elevate their creative vision. Spotlighting studios including Atelier Mineeda (Japan), Longina Phillips Designs (UK), and PHN Studio (Argentina), the zone bridges global creativity with dynamic local demand. Ms Lucia Mu, Pattern Consultant at PHN Studio, noted: “Intertextile’s visitor flow is exceptional. We’ve connected with domestic and South American clients seeking sustainable designs – many have merged our eco-focused patterns with their own fabrics to create impactful collections.”
This autumn, the zone will offer designers and studios from across the globe unparalleled access to apparel manufacturers and emerging brands eager to source innovative prints.
The fair is co-organised by Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd; the Sub-Council of Textile Industry, CCPIT; and the China Textile Information Centre. It will take place alongside Yarn Expo Autumn, CHIC and PH Value at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), with the venue playing host to the entire apparel textile value chain. For more details on this fair, please visit: www.intertextileapparel.com.
Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Autumn Edition will be held from 2 – 4 September 2025.
[1] Compared to Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Autumn Edition 2023.
[2] Compared to Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Spring Edition 2024.
Other upcoming shows:
Intertextile Shenzhen Apparel Fabrics / Yarn Expo Shenzhen
11 – 13 June 2025, Shenzhen (Futian)
Yarn Expo Autumn
2 – 4 September 2025, Shanghai
Vietnam International Trade Fair for Apparel, Textiles and Textile Technologies
26 – 28 February 2026, Ho Chi Minh City
Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Spring Edition / Yarn Expo Spring / Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles – Spring Edition
11 – 13 March 2026, Shanghai
Press information and photographic material:
https://intertextile-shanghai-apparel-fabrics-autumn.hk.messefrankfurt.com/shanghai/en/press.html
Social media and website:
www.facebook.com/intertextileapparel
https://x.com/Intertextile
www.linkedin.com/in/intertextileapparel
www.instagram.com/intertextileapparel
Your contact:
Phoebe Chau
Phone: +852 2238 9941
phoebe.chau@hongkong.messefrankfurt.com
Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd
35/F, China Resources Building
26 Harbour Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong
www.messefrankfurt.com.hk
Background information on Messe Frankfurt
The Messe Frankfurt Group is the world’s largest trade fair, congress and event organiser with its own exhibition grounds. With a workforce of some 2,500* people at its headquarters in Frankfurt am Main and in 28 subsidiaries, it organises events around the world. Group sales in financial year 2024 were around € 780* million. We serve our customers’ business interests efficiently within the framework of our Fairs & Events, Locations and Services business fields. One of Messe Frankfurt’s key strengths is its powerful and closely knit global sales network, which covers around 180 countries in all regions of the world. Our comprehensive range of services – both onsite and online – ensures that customers worldwide enjoy consistently high quality and flexibility when planning, organising and running their events. We are using our digital expertise to develop new business models. The wide range of services includes renting exhibition grounds, trade fair construction and marketing, personnel and food services.
Sustainability is a central pillar of our corporate strategy. Here, we strike a healthy balance between ecological and economic interests, social responsibility and diversity.
For more information, please visit our website at: www.messefrankfurt.com/sustainability
With its headquarters in Frankfurt am Main, the company is owned by the City of Frankfurt (60 percent) and the State of Hesse (40 percent).
For more information, please visit our website at: www.messefrankfurt.com
*Preliminary figures 2024
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