Sponsored by Messe Frankfurt Hong Kong
With each passing year, innovation in the fashion supply chain grows more advanced, and China continually positions itself at the forefront.
Against this backdrop, Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Spring Edition 2026 – set to be hosted at the 190,000 sqm National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai – will open the spring sourcing season from 11-13 March 2026 with a renewed focus on fashion forward innovation while embracing sustainable, performance and future textiles.
Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Spring Edition 2026 will be hosted at the 190,000 sqm National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai
Aligning with international trends
Over several years, the China-based trade show has proven essential for connecting innovators, forward thinkers, buyers and the textile & apparel industry at large. Ultimately, the show – supported by its four key pillars: fashion, functionality, sustainability and innovation – aligns with international and domestic market trends to facilitate essential knowledge and technology exchange.
For example, in China, the textile industry’s emissions intensity decreased by 60% from 2005 to 2022, and by a further 14% from 2022 to 2024. Reflecting exhibitors’ eagerness to attract eco-conscious buyers from China and beyond, Intertextile Apparel’s dedicated zone for sustainability, Econogy Hub, increased in scale by over 60% between the 2024 and 2025 Autumn Editions.
At the upcoming 2026 Spring Edition, the Econogy Hub zone will feature an open booth design as well as dedicated seminar and display areas. In addition, it is set to welcome a range of innovative textile suppliers and testing and certification institutions. Econogy Hub will also be supplemented by the Econogy Finder, a convenient means for visitors to locate sustainable suppliers across the fairground.
Elsewhere, many suppliers are making significant efforts to attract the next generation of customers. Generation Z is more interconnected than previous consumers, and as such, Chinese-style clothing trends have transcended the domestic fashion scene to reach international markets. At the Spring Edition, this could help to forge business opportunities for fashion-forward exhibitors at various zones across the National Exhibition and Convention Center, including Accessories Vision, Beyond Denim, Essential Suits & Shirts, the Premium Wool Zone, SalonEurope and Verve for Design.
The show aligns with international and domestic market trends to facilitate essential knowledge and technology exchange
Utilitarian design in athleisurewear
Meanwhile, as athleisure continues to proliferate in popularity and innovation follows – evolving towards utilitarian functional styles and outfits – suppliers can meet with buyers at Intertextile Apparel’s Functional Lab.
At the Spring Edition, the Functional Lab features a brand-new integrated area. Here, The Cube, formerly a display area for functional fabrics and accessories, will expand, with Functional Lab now featuring seminars and presentations much like the Econogy Hub – bringing together all essential players in one congregated and focused zone. An open area will allow key exhibitor product presentations, while a seminar space will welcome essential knowledge exchange. Meanwhile, a display area surrounding the seminar space will feature product showcases.
Featured exhibitors at the Functional Lab include US-based technology company 3M. In Spring, the company will showcase its Thinsulate Insulation, which it says revolutionises premium thermal protection with ultra-fine microfibre. According to 3M, Thinsulate Insulation is capable of “trapping body heat while wicking away moisture for breathable comfort in extreme cold. Infused with innovative xerogel—a solid that's over 99% air.” The company explains: “It delivers superior warmth-to-weight ratio, outperforming traditional down even when wet. Sustainable and lightweight, Thinsulate empowers outdoor enthusiasts and industries with enduring, ethical insulation solutions.”
Meanwhile, South Korean technologist Hyosung will showcase its advanced fabrics solutions – which, according to the company, deliver “exceptional stretch, durability and comfort for activewear, protective gear and industrial applications – with attention paid to its renowned CREORA spandex. The company explains of its exhibition: “Complementing this are high-performance nylon and polyester yarns, including groundbreaking recycled variants: the first nylon from discarded fishing nets and Korea's inaugural polyester from PET bottles. Through the sustainable Regen brand, featuring plant-based regen BIO fibres, Hyosung ensures eco-friendly, versatile fabrics that blend quality, innovation and environmental responsibility for discerning partners worldwide.”
The fair will focus on its four key pillars: fashion, functionality, sustainability and innovation
A range of luxury wool fabrics
Across the exhibition centre, the Premium Wool Zone will showcase wool’s quality and versatility, with mills set to display a range of luxury wool fabrics, such as woollen, worsted, fresco, tweed and wool blends.
Exhibitor highlights include luxury menswear specialist Scabal. The company sources ‘the world's finest’ merino wool to craft Super 140's and beyond – exceptional fabrics blending unparalleled softness, durability and drape. Scabal's wool innovations draw from a century-old archive, ensuring timeless versatility for the modern gentleman.
Meanwhile, Italian fashion house Cerruti – renowned for its premium wool solutions that fuse artisanal mastery with innovative textiles – will showcase its emphasis on ethical, sustainable sourcing and timeless Italian craftsmanship. The house is said to have revolutionised suiting with groundbreaking weaves like the iconic ‘seersucker’ and high-twist fabrics for wrinkle-resistant elegance, sourcing superfine merino wool up to Super 200's for ‘unparalleled softness, durability and breathability’.
Future design insights
Elsewhere, adjacent to the Intertextile Directions Trend Forum – which displays over 700 on-trend fabrics and accessories from international exhibitors – the Verve for Design zone will showcase prints and patterns that appeal to Spring/Summer 2027 sourcing sentiments, allowing visitors and exhibitors pertinent insight into future design trends.
New Verve for Design exhibitor, the Italy-based Eleonora Clerici Textile Design, embodies the designer's profound passion for fashion and art, explains the company. The show organisers explain: “Rooted in the region's rich textile heritage, the studio crafts original, hand-drawn prints that are meticulously digitalised for high-resolution production. Catering to women's, men's, swimwear and accessory markets, Clerici delivers weekly collections of contemporary designs inspired by global catwalks and trend previews.”
Growing from strength to strength
Ultimately, Intertextile Apparel continues to grow from strength to strength, driven by its four pillars of fashion, functionality, sustainability and innovation. As trends shift towards eco-conscious sourcing, utilitarian athleisure and modern wool craftsmanship, the fair brings together key exhibitors across essential zones, from Econogy Hub to Functional Lab and the Premium Wool Zone. By aligning with international market movements and showcasing future design insight, the show remains a vital platform for advanced sourcing and textile development.
The previous Spring Edition saw visitor numbers rise steadily – visitors internationally were up by ~13%, overseas exhibitors by ~15%, a return rate of over 50%, while over 100 suppliers made their debuts in the International Hall. The same edition featured two new display areas for functional fashion.
Exhibiting at the previous Spring Edition, Karen Yang, global marketing communication leader, textile, at Eastman Chemical (China), commented: “Every year we bring new concepts, innovations and technologies to Intertextile Apparel. For the Chinese market, it is very important for us to develop something new, and to introduce the newest in technology and innovation. The buyers at Intertextile Apparel are excellent – they are forward-thinking and eager to try new things, and highly innovative. Their fabric development skills and technologies are also ideal. That's why we choose this platform to debut our latest innovations and fabrics, and this year we were very happy to launch Naia On The Move at Intertextile Apparel.”
The next edition, running from 11-13 March 2026, will take place across 190,000 sqm at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai, and has an expected scale of 3,000 exhibitors.
For more information on the show, visit here. Exhibitors may also contact Messe Frankfurt’s Jimmy Chan and Kathy Lai at textile@hongkong.messefrankfurt.com, while visitors may contact the Intertextile Team at itx-service@hongkong.messefrankfurt.com.
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