At Shanghai’s National Exhibition and Convention Center, which spans 190,000 square meters and has over 3,000 exhibitors, the exhibition will showcase a wide variety of goods and services. The textile industry is moving closer to sustainable methods, just like the majority of other industries. The growing use of recycled materials and bio-based fibres in functional textiles is one encouraging development that reflects this trend across the value chain. Functional sustainability, which has gained popularity at recent Intertextile Apparel editions, will be evident across the fairground at the next Spring Edition, especially at Econogy Hub and Functional Lab, two of the show’s main zones.
Together with Econogy Finder, the dedicated Econogy Hub will make its debut at the Spring Edition of Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics after a successful debut at the Autumn Edition last year. This will enable exhibitors who have completed the independent Econogy Check to inform buyers of their green credentials. At the same time, Functional Lab’s exclusive display space, The CUBE, which will feature a variety of carefully chosen, trendy functional textiles, will debut at the spring show.
Functional clothing companies are increasingly using recycled plastics, organic cotton, and other sustainable materials in their goods as consumer environmental consciousness grows in tandem with the current activewear trend. Many of these materials are purchased via events like Intertextile Apparel.
With functional sustainability high on the agenda, several key industry players will return to Functional Lab, including:
• 3M China Limited: the multinational will showcase its trademarked Thinsulate Insulation, a warm, lightweight microfibre with a high warmth-to-thickness ratio. Different product types in the Thinsulate series contain varying levels of recycled content, and include functions ranging from stretchiness to water and flame resistance.
• Henglun Textile (Vietnam) Co Ltd: the company’s production facilities in Vietnam and China have an annual capacity of over 20,000 tons, specialising in knitted denim, piece dyed knitted, and print knitted fabrics, with sustainability certifications from BCI, GRS, OEKO-TEX® and more.
Speaking at the previous Autumn Edition, Ms Jackie Liu, APAC Business Leader of 3M China Limited, said: “Sustainable development, environmental protection and digitalisation are hot topics in the industry, and also the top priorities for our product planning. We integrate sustainable technology into the development of each new product and make it recyclable, while our products use renewable raw materials to reduce environmental harm. Sustainability has permeated all aspects of the company’s daily operations and product development.”
Other leading suppliers blending sustainability with functionality
A wide range of functional fabrics and accessories exhibitors across the fairground will showcase sustainable products at the upcoming Spring Edition, in addition to those presenting in Functional Lab. Featured exhibitors include:
• Eastman Chemical Company: showcasing Naia™ Renew fibre, produced from 60% sustainably sourced wood pulp and 40% certified recycled waste material via mass balance accounting, creating value from waste and helping brands become more sustainable without compromising on comfort, quality or style.
• Esquel Enterprises Ltd: promising to reach net zero emissions by 2050, Esquel is a full service provider of high-end cotton textiles and garments, even producing its own accessories and packaging from leftover yarn and fabrics.
• Grasim Industries Limited: a flagship company of the Aditya Birla Group, one of India’s top listed companies. Grasim is a leading producer of cellulosic fibres, diversified chemicals, and fashion yarns and fabrics.
Key to the industry’s sustainable movement is certification and traceability across the value chain. Alongside sustainable fabrics suppliers, the Spring Edition’s Econogy Hub will host a range of certifiers and testing institutes, including Ecocert, Hohenstein, and Testex AG.
“This fair has got much greener, as evidenced at our booth. It’s also become more professional and more digital,” said Mr Marc Sidler, Group CMO at Testex AG, speaking at last year’s autumn show. “It’s amazing to see how customers and partners visit us at our booth. There is strong interest in Made in Green, it’s our most sustainable product, where you can really see the transparency of the supply chain towards the end consumer.”
The fair is co-organised by Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd; the Sub-Council of Textile Industry, CCPIT; and the China Textile Information Centre. It will take place alongside Yarn Expo Spring, Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles – Spring Edition, CHIC and PH Value at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai). For more details on this fair, please visit: www.intertextileapparel.com.
Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Spring Edition will be held from 11 – 13 March 2025.
Other upcoming shows:
Vietnam International Trade Fair for Apparel, Textiles and Textile Technologies
26 – 28 February 2025, Ho Chi Minh City
Intertextile Shenzhen Apparel Fabrics / Yarn Expo Shenzhen
11 – 13 June 2025, Shenzhen (Futian)
Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Autumn Edition / Yarn Expo Autumn
2 – 4 September 2025, Shanghai
