Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics opens Wednesday (October 26) at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre where over 1,530 textile suppliers - a 26% increase from 2004 - will present their products.

Exhibitors include some of the world's market leaders such as 3M, Cotton Council International, Dow Fiber Solutions, the Huafu Group, Hyosung, Lenzing Fibers, Swarovski and Union Knopf.

"The response from exhibitors has really been remarkable this year," said Annie Ma, group manager of Trade Fairs for Messe Frankfurt in Hong Kong. "We are very impressed by the industry response. Many exhibitors were still on waiting list until the end of September. This really proves that apparel textile professionals recognise the show at one of the most important of its kind in China."

Close to 1,000 Chinese exhibitors will participate at the show including suppliers from key textile producing regions; Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang. Products showcased will include not only textiles for mass production but also functional textiles and high-end products. Da Fa Cloth and Luthai Textile will be some of the Chinese market leaders present.