Using momentum to elevate fashion trends, sustainability and innovation this September
The textile industry is navigating a constantly evolving business landscape, and currently facing various challenges. However, this dynamic environment also presents significant opportunities, fuelled by rising demand from emerging markets, advancements in technology, and shifts in consumer preferences.
To help the industry adapt and identify pathways for growth, Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Autumn Edition will open its doors at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) from 2 – 4 September 2025. After strong domestic and international visitor increases at recent editions, the fair is on track to cement its role as one of the leading hubs for textile trade and innovation exchange.
The 2024 Autumn Edition marked the show’s 30th anniversary by drawing nearly 4,000 exhibitors from 26 countries and regions, and welcoming over 100,000 visitors, with international buyers up 29%[1]. This momentum carried into 2025’s Spring Edition, hosting nearly 95,000 visitors from 131 countries and regions, and a 17% rise[2] in overseas visitors.
The organisers, Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, maintain that key reasons for the show’s ongoing success are its global appeal, and renewed focus on four key pillars: fashion fabrics & accessories, functional fashion, sustainability, and innovation & digital transformation.
Ms Wilmet Shea, the company’s General Manager, explained: “Decade-to-decade, Intertextile’s growth reflects its unmatched ability to connect global suppliers with forward-thinking buyers. While the current market is filled with uncertainties and headwinds, the increasing international scope of the fair presents enhanced business opportunities across the entire textile value chain. Our focus on innovation and the latest design trends underscores our commitment to sustainability and digital transformation, ensuring we are well-prepared for what’s next.”
Highlighting the industry’s commitment to sustainability and green innovation
Intertextile Apparel has long served as a catalyst for industry evolution, providing a vital platform for key players to stay informed about the latest trends, technological advancements, and regulatory developments shaping eco-friendly products and solutions. This year’s Autumn Edition will spotlight cutting-edge green solutions, ranging from biodegradable fibres to waterless dyeing methods and the latest certifications and testing solutions, amplifying the platform’s commitment to fostering industry-wide sustainability.
A key initiative of the fair, the Econogy Hub fosters dialogue and provides a specialised platform for sustainable product and service suppliers, empowering buyers to navigate the movement towards circularity and prepare for a greener future. Following its successful debut with nearly 40 exhibitors at the previous Autumn Edition, key industry leaders at the upcoming Econogy Hub include the likes of:
- bluesign technologies ag
- Bureau Veritas Group
- Control Union World Group
- ECOCERT
- Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)
- Hohenstein
- IDFL Laboratory and Institute
- Itochu Corporation
- TESTEX
Beyond the Econogy Hub, sustainable offerings will be featured across the fairground – notably through exhibitors who pass the Econogy Check, an independent verification tool aligned with over 100 globally recognised certifications and standards covering sustainable supply chains, materials & processes, and strategy & innovation. This comprehensive assessment enhances transparency and helps streamline procurement for buyers prioritising eco-credentials. Exhibitors who pass the Check will be featured in the Econogy Finder, an online directory used to facilitate in-person connections between like-minded industry players.
Another zone that debuted last autumn was the Digital Solutions Zone, set to return this year with an expanded scope as the Innovation and Digital Solutions Zone, including new material innovations such as smart textiles, as well as solutions such as 3D modelling and virtual sampling, additive manufacturing, AI-powered logistics, digital printing, digital product passports, generative AI for design, and wearable technologies.
As one of the industry’s largest sourcing platforms, Intertextile Apparel continues to anchor global trends through its diverse zones, with others including Accessories Vision, Beyond Denim, Functional Lab, Premium Wool Zone, SalonEurope, and Verve for Design.
Showcasing the newest vogues: definitive fashion trends unfold for Autumn / Winter 2026-27
At the heart of the upcoming fair, the Intertextile Directions Trend Forum, themed PUSH SENSATION, will ignite a new narrative for Autumn / Winter 2026-27 fashion trends. Through a creative and inspiring display of on-trend fabrics, the forum will explore four key trends that shape the world with the ‘wildest dreams’ of humankind: gentle > raw, classic > theatrical, childish > bizarre, and pragmatic > dreamlike.
With the theme’s four trends predicted by the members of the Intertextile Directions Trend Committee – DONEGER | TOBE (New York), NellyRodi™ Agency (Paris), ELEMENTI MODA (Milan), and Sachiko Inoue (Tokyo). – the Trend Forum will showcase a selection of fabrics and accessories from exhibitors across the globe, arranged into different sections defined by each trend narrative.
gentle > raw: natural refinement meets organic texture.
classic > theatrical: classic fashion reborn as bold statements.
childish > bizarre: playful elements with surreal expression.
pragmatic > dreamlike: tailored futurism merging fashion with function.
Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Autumn Edition 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 Autumn, CHIC and PH Value at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), with the venue playing host to the entire apparel textile value chain.
[1] Compared to Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Autumn Edition 2023.
[2] Compared to Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Spring Edition 2024.
