Consumer demand for activewear has been increasing rapidly, with some of the world’s largest fast-fashion companies moving into this segment. To provide exhibitors with more opportunities to capture this trend, the featured Functional Lab zone debuts at Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Spring Edition 2016 after its successful first-time appearance at the 2015 Autumn Edition.
Featuring a wide range of smart, outdoor and sports fabrics, as well as performance textiles, the Functional Lab will be the centre of the activewear market next March. In 2015, a total of 69 exhibitors from six countries and regions took part in this debut zone. Some of the global brands and companies that participated to gain better access to their target buyers were Huvis (Korea), Hyosung Corporation (Korea), Invista (USA), Nylstar (Spain), Santoni (Shanghai), Toray Chemical Korea (Korea), Toyobo (Japan) and Unifi Suzhou (China).
“We met a lot of international customers here such as big fashion brands from Europe, as well as sports and outdoor brands from North America. Also fabric mills from China and Asia. I visit a lot of other fairs, but this one is one of the biggest in the world which is what we like. The Performance Lab is a great idea. For the buyers, it’s very easy to find what they’re looking for, so it’s great,” said Hongjun Ning, Vice President Sales and Marketing, Unifi Textiles (Suzhou), China.
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