Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics- Autumn Edition 2014, the world’s largest international apparel fabrics and accessories trade fair recorded a historical high both in the number of exhibitors and visitors. A total of 3,844 exhibitors from 30 countries and regions welcomed 71,138 visitors from 93 countries and regions.

The fair began 20 years ago with 130 exhibitors across 12 countries. Now, it’s the world’s greatest fair of its kind, said Stephan Buurma, Managing Director for Messe Frankfurt Asia Holding Ltd, on the opening day. Despite slower economic growth in China last year, the focus of consumers has shifted from prices to quality, and demand for the innovative textiles provided by the fair is expected.

The fair’s fashion show designer, Walter Ma, created a special 20th anniversary gown which was designed to showcase the very essence of the last two decades of the show. In addition, the Fabric Wall, created from fabric swatches of different exhibitors, creates a visual record of the show and captures the spirit of the 20th anniversary. Offering a glimpse into the collaboration and creativity developed over the last 20 years, the Wall is an embodiment of the diversity and flair of past, present and future apparel fabrics.

The fair also features the winning entries of the China International Fabrics Design Competition and China International Fabrics Creation Competition. This year there are 29 winners awarded in the design competition and 3 winners awarded in the creation competition. These are the only professional design competitions in the Chinese textile fabrics sector and visitors to the fair were able to see the winning overseas pieces displayed in the Intertextile Directions Trend Forum in hall W1, while the domestic pieces were displayed in Fabrics China Trend Forums along with the video broadcasting in hall E1 rest area.

This was for the 20th Anniversary Celebration of the trade fair held for four days from Oct 20 to 23, 2014 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre.

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