Interstoff Asia Essential – Autumn 2014 concluded with more than 6,000 visitors from 41 countries and regions attending.
This edition also marked the end of an era, with the organisers deciding to cease holding the fair from next year. “Interstoff has facilitated the expansion of the fashion industry in Hong Kong over the past 27 years; however, textile manufacturing and buying offices have steadily relocated to Mainland China in recent years. In order to better serve our stakeholder’s needs, we came to the decision to cease holding this fair from next year and refocus our efforts on the Mainland Chinese market,” said Wendy Wen, Senior General Manager of Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, stating the company believes this move will benefit exhibitors and the industry in the long run. Despite the fair no longer taking place, Messe Frankfurt will continue to support the local textiles sector. “As the industry in Hong Kong is important to us, we will continue to look at ways to serve it in the future,” Ms Wen continued. “At present, we have plans to help young Hong Kong designers to promote their work at our fairs in the Mainland, where demand for original and creative designs is currently very strong.” Altogether 145 exhibitors attended this Autumn Edition, and while there was a sense of disappointment at the decision, many welcomed the move as it can help them optimise their resources. “You have made the right decision as we also want to focus more on the Chinese market. Your apparel fabrics fairs in Shanghai and Shenzhen both appeal to us,” said Alan Tsang, a representative of Erictex Fashion Co Ltd from Taiwan. Sharing the same opinion was Kang Yhun Hwa, Assistant Manager of R&D Textile Co Ltd from Korea. “Fabric quality in Mainland China has improved a lot over recent years. That’s why many global buyers are willing to go there for sourcing. As a result, Korean suppliers, including us, would like to have increased involvement in the Chinese market and join more fairs there. It will be helpful if Messe Frankfurt can allocate more resources to your Mainland shows,” she said. Suppliers within Mainland China also agree that the decision will be beneficial to them. “Overseas buyers started to go directly to the source in the Mainland three to four years ago. If you could make your Shanghai fairs even big ger, it will be good news as this can create more potential for us. Moreover, by allocating further resources to these fairs, it will provide textile manufacturers in Zhejiang and Jiangsu Province with a broader platform to meet with buyers,” said Kandy Chan from Zhangjiagang B&J Textile Co Ltd in Mainland China. Seeing the same change in business model is Richard Hopcroft, Sales Director of Suzhou Moonlace Co Ltd from Mainland China. “There are fewer sourcing offices and merchandisers around Hong Kong nowadays. Many factories, followed by sourcing offices, moved to Mainland China which has become a big international player over recent years,” he said. He also explained that many international buyers like to make factory visits after meeting with suppliers at trade events; as a result, attending fairs closer to the textile manufacturing hubs is more convenient for them.
Greater sourcing options available for buyers
As more textile factories are located in Mainland China, allocating extra resources to fairs in this market can provide wider sourcing options for buyers. “The textile market in the Mainland is huge and still developing. In order to meet with a large selection of suppliers, buyers need to attend trade events in the country to open up all the potential. That’s why revamped and bigger fabric fairs in the country will be to buyers’ advantages,” said Lawrence Lee, Senior Sales Manager of Jiangxi Xinweisi Technology Development Co Ltd from China. Salvatore Parasuco, President and Creative Director of Parasuco from Canada, is another visitor who supports this view. “I am around Shanghai more often for sourcing as it is closer to a large number of textile factories. So it will benefit me if you allocate more resources to your Mainland fairs,” he said. In Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics, exhibitors and buyers have a ready-made replacement to meet their needs in Asia. This fair will be celebrating its 20th anniversary from 20 – 23 October at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre, and boasts a number of features which target the high-end sector of the industry. This includes the Beyond Denim hall which has been established to meet the surging demand for denim in the domestic market. Meanwhile, the Verve for Design zone, which promotes original creative fabrics and textile pattern designs, expands by over 50% this year, and features collections from Australia, France, Italy, Korea, Spain and the UK. Moreover, the All About Sustainability zone will return once again featuring the latest eco and sustainable fabrics, outfits and products, as well as an area where exhibitors and companies can learn and collaborate for a more sustainable future. This show is the biggest textile trade fair in the world, and will house over 3,800 international suppliers from 30 countries and regions this year. In 2015, both the spring and autumn editions of this fair will take place in a new, significantly larger venue, which will allow for future growth in terms of exhibitors and show features. Another two industry trade events – Yarn Expo Autumn 2014 and PH Value – will be held concurrently with Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics this year, bringing more synergy effects to show participants.