Wide-ranging seminar programme features the industry’s leading experts

With only one month to go until Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Autumn Edition 2014, over 3,500 exhibitors from 32 countries and regions have already confirmed to take part in the fair’s 20^th anniversary edition. The fair has become well-known in the region for not just showcasing the latest apparel fabrics and accessories from around the world, but for also featuring inspiring and informative product areas that keep buyers up-to-date with the latest trends and ideas.

Matching the strong demand in the industry for eco-friendly and sustainable products, technology and services, the All About Sustainability zone returns to the fair again, expanding this year by 148% with a total of 32 exhibitors taking part. To ensure visitors to the fair can find exactly what they’re looking for, the zone has been split into two sections: an Educational Zone and ecoBoutique display area. The former features the Oeko-Tex Pavilion which currently has 17 confirmed exhibitors, while individual brands such as bluesign, GOTS, Intertek, SGS-CSTC and TÜV Rheinland also feature in this zone. To highlight, Bluesign will showcases bluesign® system, a chemicals management system, and bluesign® bluefinder, a web based application for chemicals management at the fair.

One of the new exhibitors in the Educational Zone is Chori Co Ltd from Japan which natural vegetable-dyed series are using standard vegetables and the inedible parts of vegetables collected from farmers around Japan. The eco fabrics brought by Chori are finished in Japan, with eco friendly production process - dyeing mill with less water and less electricity consumption. First-time Korea exhibitor Naco Co Ltd, meanwhile, will showcase an eco-friendly dyeing method. Naco Co is the manufacturer of the potential Cambodia’s Social infra, with farming began in Cambodia and they posses 25-year study of natural dyeing techniques developed over 300 color rendition. In the ecoBoutique display area participating companies will present outfits and full collections made from eco fabrics. Confirmed exhibitors so far in this area include industry leaders Lenzing, Unifi and some other well-known retail brands LiNing, Toread as well as NGO Redress.

Wide-ranging seminar programme features the industry’s leading experts

To ensure the fair remains as relevant as possible for the industry, a comprehensive seminar programme will take place during days 2 and 3. Just some of the companies hosting seminars at this edition include Birla, Huafu, Jintex Corporation, Milano Unica, NellyRodi™ Agency, Oeko-Tex Association, SGS, Unifi, etc.

This year, for the first time, a special GOTS forum will take place on the morning of 22 October. The forum is designed to give examples of achievable improvements producers can make along their supply chains to become more sustainable, and will feature speakers from leading worldwide retailers and manufacturers.

One of the most popular seminars this year promises to be the discussion on sustainability in the Italian tanning industry presented by Orietta Pelizzari and Silvia Pedrana from Italian company Trend Selection by Lineapelle. Pelizzari is an internationally renowned fashion trend advisor and analyst, with expertise in the fields of fashion style and consumer trend forecasting. Her seminar will focus on the Italian tanning industry which is the world’s leading exporter of finished leather, and places a particular emphasis on social and environmental commitment. Participants can learn about the measures being undertaken by tanneries in Italy to reduce their environmental footprint and develop the communities they are a part of.

Running concurrently with this fair are two other events: Yarn Expo Autumn (hall N4) and PH Value (hall N4-5) which are located within the same venue as Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics and take place over three days from 20 – 22 October.

Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Autumn Edition 2014 is co-organised by the Sub-Council of Textile Industry, CCPIT; Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd; and the China Textile Information Centre.