Final Report
Intertextile Beijing Apparel Fabrics
Beijing, China, China International Exhibition Centre
Press / April 2011
Final Report /
Amra Durakovic
Tel. +(862) 2238 9972
Fax +(852) 2519 8632
www.messefrankfurt.com
www.intertextile.com
ITXBeijing-11-SB-e
Intertextile Beijing Apparel Fabrics
China International Trade Fair for Apparel fabrics and Accessories
Beijing, China, China International Exhibition Centre
30 March – 1 April 2011
More than 25,000 quality buyers attended the Beijing edition, proving show’s relevance within the textile industry
SalonEurope - popular with the growing domestic luxury market
Tailor made fringe programmes offered more opportunities for success
After yet another successful trade event, Intertextile Beijing Apparel Fabrics, closed its doors last week on 1 April 2011, attracting 25,014 buyers from 66 countries and regions. Exhibitors unanimously agreed – more quality buyers attended this year’s show.
Majority of the buyers came from Beijing, Shanghai and the Chinese provinces Zhejiang, Guangdong and Jiangsu, for the opportunity to source from 1,200 exhibitors from 16 countries and regions. Nearly 60% of the exhibitors were repeat participants indicating the importance of the fair within the apparel fabrics and textile products related industry.
“We recognise that today’s buyers need to experience the entire flow of the industry supply chain at a single venue,” explained Ms Wendy Wen, Trade Fair Director for Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd. “This integrated approach, to information exchange on several different levels, from our business matching programme to the trend forums and seminars, offers our participants’ new opportunities for business, growth and most importantly saves costs.”
SalonEurope - popular with the growing domestic luxury market
The newly designated SalonEurope grouped 94 suppliers from six countries and regions including pavilions from Germany and Italy plus individual country participation from Portugal, Switzerland, Turkey and the UK. Presenting a variety of quality items from cottons and silk to super fine wools and accessories, visitors had the opportunity to source from some of Europe’s top suppliers including premium denim producer Becker & Führen Tuche Vertriebs GmbH from Germany, fine wool producer Hield from the UK, high quality cotton producer Soktas from Turkey, stylish ladieswear fabric producers Miroglio Textile Srl from Italy plus many more.
A host of new European exhibitors including TCS srl from Como, Italy also joined the SalonEurope. Offering a unique range of printed design fabrics suitable for menswear, Mr Paolo Sata, Director for the exclusive Italian fabric brand said: “Intertextile is the best show for us to analyse our product suitability for the Chinese market and so far, we have received lots of interest.“
Also new to the fair was Swiss cotton producer, Stotz & Co AG. “The positive response from Chinese buyers has been tremendous even though our price points are quite high,“ exclaimed Ms Marcella Tondato, sales representative for the fabric supplier who only produce their cotton fabrics using long and extra long stable fibres spun in Switzerland. “The luxury market in China is growing and we feel very good to be here – it’s certainly one of the most important shows in China.“
“The quality of the Chinese buyers attending this fair is getting better each year. We are targeting buyers from high-end domestic brands,” said Mr Rudolf Loewen, C.E.O for Hansel Textil GmbH, interlining specialist from Germany. He further commented: “We’ve noticed that domestic buyers prefer our light weight polyamide linings that have been made in Germany – it’s important for them to source quality made European products.”
Mr Gabriele Giannini for Lanificio Comero Spa also emphasized the significance of the fair. “It’s important for us to be here, showcasing in the Italy pavilion, which adds value for Chinese buyers, to show our philosophy, our trends and our products.” The super fine wool fabrics producer met with the high-end Chinese brand Baoxinao as well as buyers from Australia, New Zealand and Russia.
Other leading leading suppliers were Benchmark Co Ltd (Thailand), Huddersfield Fine Worsteds Ltd (the UK), Iwabuchi Co Ltd (Japan), Lenzing AG (Austria), Maibom GmbH (Germany), Sapphire Textile Mills Ltd (Pakistan), Samkang Co Ltd (Korea), Singtex Industrial Co Ltd (Taiwan) and Somelos Tecidos SA (Portugal) and many others.. Meanwhile the most popular products for sourcing this year were: wool, cotton, accessories.
International halls attract buyers from around the world
Essential sourcing areas of interest in the international halls included the Japan zone that increased in size by 35% and featured a variety of high quality cotton blends, linen, fancy knits and woven fabrics suitable for ladieswear and casualwear.
The Korea pavilion also witnessed growth in size by 22% and featured a variety of functional fabrics made from cupra, jacquard, polyester, viscose and many more fibres suitable for fashion orientated clothing for both men and women.
Another noteworthy increase was the Taiwan pavilion that doubled in size and showcased a variety of functional and eco-friendly fabrics plus the return of the Pakistan pavilion with two new suppliers and featured a variety of cotton wovens, knits and yarns.
Alongside these special country and regional pavilions were domestic suppliers who were clearly categorised into product end use including suitings, ladieswear, functional, sportswear, casualwear and the accessories hall, which for the first time grouped both international and domestic accessories suppliers.
Accessories exhibitor Goda Embroidery Co Ltd from Japan was very glad with the new allocation in the Accessories hall. “This is a great location that has enabled us to meet with many potential buyers from all over Asia. This fair is one of the best business meeting points in China,” commented Mr Brett Schofield, Sales Manager for the direct embroidery and trimmings manufacturer.
Exhibitors throughout the fair shared Mr Schofield’s sentiments. “Intertextile Beijing is a very important trade fair in China, where we can gain a better understanding of the domestic market,“ explained first time exhibitor, Mr Hiroshi Goto, Assistant General Manager for Takisada-Osaka Trading Co Ltd, Japan. “We brought more than 3,500 products with us to introduce to designers, garment manufacturers and trading companies, whom we have met at this fair.”
A first time buyer from the domestic market, Mr Wang Erdong for Guangdong Daerli Apparel Co Ltd was impressed with the international halls. “I’m looking for some fresh patterns and color designs for our lingerie and nightwear lines. I have met with quite a number of good suppliers in halls 2 and 3.”
International buyer, Mr Prem Balani from Scoozi Ukraine was also pleased with the fair layout and organisation. Mr Balani was looking for classic black and grey coloured fabrics as well as some bright colours for the Eastern European ladies and men’s wear market. “Last year, I found a supplier who produces Spandex fitting for ladieswear and this time I hope to be just as successful and find a supplier from either China or Korea who specialises in functional fabrics.”
Leading retailers and buying offices including Burberry, Mango, Newtimes Far East Development (HK) Ltd and TAL Apparel Ltd were among the VIP buyers invited to take part in this year’s business matching programme. Most of the VIP buyers were looking for variations of fabrics that were fashionable yet functional.
“It’s important for the fabrics we source to look and feel refined. It has been a good experience,” explained Ms Enid Cheu, Assistant Merchandising Manager for Polo Ralph Lauren Sourcing Co Ltd, one of the VIP buyers. “This programme gave me a chance to meet with suppliers that I may have otherwise overlooked. They were well prepared and I am very happy to have found two new leads that I will work a trial run with.”
One of the successful business matches was with Korean functional fabrics producer, SNT Co Ltd. Their new collection of synthetic fibres was a big hit at the fair, mainly their knitted jersey down fabric. “This programme has given us more possibilities for on-site orders and given us the time to explain the quality of our products. We are very happy,” said Mr Harry Park, the company’s Knit Marketing Team Manager.
Eve, Fapei, K-boxing, Septwolves and Youngor were just some of the leading domestic brands that attended the fair. Additional delegations comprising of 23 buyers from Korea and Thailand were also invited to participate in the fair.
Tailor made fringe programmes offered more opportunities for success
The inaugural forum on responsible sourcing was the fair’s first foray into engaging delegates on sustainable practices along the apparel fabrics supply chain. Key speakers included Mr Alex Yeung Wai-Hon, Business Development Director for the Clothing Industry Training Authority, Mr David Chu Tak-Hung, Senior Vice President for TAL Apparel Ltd and Mr Bruce Bergstrom, Vice President – Vendor Compliance for Li & Fung (Trading) Ltd.
“This is the first time I have visited Intertextile Beijing and I found it to be very manageable,” explained seminar delegate and buyer, Ms Melissa Ilg, QA Textile Manager for Cabela’s Hong Kong Ltd, a hunting, fishing and outdoor gear brand from the US. “I am very happy to have the chance to not only source for innovative fabrics, like the bonded faux fur suitable for outwear that I found at the Korea pavilion but also to learn what the industry leaders are doing in terms of responsible sourcing. I definitely hope to come back again”
Equally as informative and inspirational were the trend forums and seminars giving buyers a fresh and international glimpse into the patterns, fabric, colour and texture trends for Spring/Summer 2012. World renowned forecasting agents from France, Italy, the UK and the US were on-site to offer their colourful interpretations.
“It was a full house at our trend seminar,” said Ms Mary Tse, Marketing Director for Stylesight Asia-Pacific, who hosted a trend seminar on day one of the fair as well as exhibited. “China is our target audience and we are very happy with the quality buyers attending this show, in fact we have already closed a deal on-site – it has undoubtedly been a greater business experience for us this year.”
For photos from this year’s event, visit www.intertextile.com. For information on all Messe Frankfurt textile fairs worldwide, please visit: http://texpertise.messefrankfurt.com.
Background information on Messe Frankfurt
Messe Frankfurt is Germany’s leading trade fair organiser, with 450* million euros in sales in 2010 and more than 1,770 employees worldwide. The Messe Frankfurt Group has a global network of 28 subsidiaries, five branch offices and 52 international Sales Partners, giving it a presence for its customers in more than 150 countries. Events “made by Messe Frankfurt” take place at more than 30 locations around the globe. In 2010, Messe Frankfurt organised 88 trade fairs, of which more than half took place outside Germany.
Messe Frankfurt’s exhibition grounds, featuring 578,000 square metres, are currently home to ten exhibition halls and an adjacent Congress Center. The company is publicly owned, with the City of Frankfurt holding 60 percent and the State of Hesse 40 percent.
For more information, please visit our website at: www.messefrankfurt.com
* preliminary numbers (2010)