Sustainability, Functional Fashion and Digital Transformation Drive Agenda as Intertextile Shanghai Autumn Edition Opens

The three-day Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics opened today at National Exhibition and Convention Center, featuring over 3,700 exhibitors from 26 countries and regions. Eight overseas buyer delegations will attend, including first-time delegations from Brazil and Türkiye, alongside established programmes from Bangladesh, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam for international sourcing opportunities.

Special Correspondent

2 September 2025

4 minutes

Long Story, Cut Short

The exhibition sprawls across nine halls, uniting international pavilions and specialist groups under one vast sourcing platform.
Freshly launched Suits and Shirts section caters to everyday fashion markets, alongside upgraded digital design and inspection technologies.
Overseas buyer delegations from Asia and beyond strengthen sourcing ties, with Brazil and Türkiye joining the programme for the first time.

Intertextile Shanghai has entered its fourth decade of operation with expanded international participation and zone developments. Fair organisers have introduced new display areas and upgraded existing zones to address market demands. The three-day Autumn Edition event, which got under way today, spans nine exhibition halls covering various textile categories from casualwear to functional sportswear.

Fair organisers expect over 3,700 exhibitors from 26 countries and regions to participate in the September exhibition.
Nine halls accommodate categories including casualwear, kidswear, denim, functional / sportswear, ladieswear, lingerie, and suiting.
Eight overseas buyer delegations will attend, with Brazil and Türkiye participating for the first time.
Four focus themes drive content: fashion fabrics and accessories, functional fashion, sustainability, and innovation and digital transformation.
The event takes place from 2-4 September 2025 at National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai.

THE ATTENTION: Fair organisers launched the Essential Suits and Shirts zone specifically for ready-to-wear market suppliers offering practical suiting fabrics. The debut zone joins other new developments including the replacement of the Functional Suiting Display Area with Bespoke Performance. The Innovation and Digital Solutions Zone receives upgrades with technology demonstrations and digital manufacturing solutions. The Essential Suits and Shirts launch directly answers the call for accessible, everyday fashion.

Essential Suits and Shirts zone brings together suppliers of practical, high-quality suiting and shirting fabrics for ready-to-wear markets.
Bespoke Performance replaces the previous Functional Suiting Display Area, showcasing fusion of style, practicality and luxury using functional materials.
Innovation and Digital Solutions Zone features advanced digital solutions, textile technologies, and materials with enhanced Technology Solutions events.
Leading exhibitors in Essential Suits and Shirts include Mahmood Textile Mills and Kohinoor Mills offering cotton and blended fabrics.
The zone presents adaptable materials suitable for both professional and casual environments for modern wardrobes.

THE BREAKUPS: The fair spans nine exhibition halls with specialised zones distributed across multiple locations. Country and region pavilions represent France, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Pakistan, Taiwan, and Türkiye. Group pavilions organised by Hyosung, Lenzing, LYCRA, PRUTEX, and Sorona gather suppliers under unified themes. A total of 37 seminars will provide content across four key categories.

Nine exhibition halls cover accessories and fabrics for casualwear, kidswear, denim, functional / sportswear, ladieswear, lingerie, and suiting.
Country pavilions and zones represent France, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Pakistan, Taiwan, and Türkiye with dedicated exhibition space.
Thirty-seven seminars span Design and Trends, Market Information, Technology Solutions, and Texpertise Econogy categories.
Featured zones include Econogy Hub, Functional Lab, Premium Wool Zone, SalonEurope, Verve for Design, Accessories Vision, and Beyond Denim.

WORTH NOTING: Several new exhibitors join the fair including international companies with sustainability focus. Itochu Corporation from Japan collaborates with various companies to develop garments from coffee grounds using environmentally friendly dyes. Fibrant from Netherlands, now part of Highsun Group China, pioneers sustainable nylon solutions through the EcoLactam product line. German company Wendler Einlagen brings 50 years of shirt industry interlining expertise with Oeko-Tex Standard 100 adherence.

Itochu Corporation develops garments from coffee grounds while contributing towards circular economy through collaborative partnerships.
Dezhou Huayuan Eco-Technology introduces revolutionary fibre using ultra-fine denier down technology that is ten per cent finer than cashmere.
Quanzhou Lianxingfa Knitting operates as LYCRA agent since 2019, promoting vertically-integrated supply chain from yarn development to garment production.

CASE IN POINT: The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel will present their Green Machine recycling system for mixed materials at the Innovation and Digital Solutions Zone. HKRITA will present Green Machine recycling system for mixed materials. The recycling system is designed for mixed materials. Their presentation forms part of the Innovation and Digital Solutions Zone technology demonstrations.

THE BROADER VIEW: Intertextile Apparel has renewed emphasis on four focus themes over recent years: fashion fabrics and accessories, functional fashion, sustainability, and innovation and digital transformation. These themes feature across the show floor and various categories with exhibitors spread across nine halls. The fair reinforces commitment to connecting emerging trends with sourcing opportunities.

Theme integration appears across show floor categories with exhibitors distributed throughout nine exhibition halls for comprehensive coverage.
Fair management reinforces commitment to connecting emerging trends with impactful sourcing opportunities across focus theme areas.
The fair includes exhibitors presenting sustainable production methods and digital transformation technologies.

WHAT’S CONCURRENT: Visitors can explore concurrent events at Shanghai venues during the fair period. Cinte Techtextil China takes place from 3-5 September 2025 at Shanghai New International Expo Centre with pre-registered Intertextile visitors receiving complimentary access. Yarn Expo Autumn, CHIC, and PH Value take place alongside Intertextile at National Exhibition and Convention Center.

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