Intertextile Shanghai — Spring Fabrics

Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics — Spring Edition is positioned as the global kick-off for the spring sourcing season, concentrating upstream textiles, fashion innovation and enabling services into three highly productive days. The 2026 edition is confirmed for 11–13 March 2026 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (NECC), Shanghai, with on-site and digital services coordinated by Messe Frankfurt. For buyers, the show compresses vendor discovery, technical due diligence and shortlist creation into a single workflow supported by guided routes and matchmaking (Connect PLUS) that link pre-registered visitors with exhibitors before arrival. For suppliers, the density of qualified international traffic translates into outcome-oriented meetings and faster conversion to RFQs and sampling plans. As a planning benchmark, the fair’s 2025 cycle reported 190,000 sqm (gross), 3,100+ exhibitors and ~95,000 visitors across countries and regions, underscoring its scale and breadth; while 2026 content focuses on sustainability, performance and digital innovation themes that shape apparel sourcing decisions. Dates, venue and service framework are published on official fair pages and factsheets.

The show’s curation spans the full spectrum of apparel fabrics and accessories for spring/summer: cotton, wool, silk, linen and blends; man-made and functional knits/wovens; denim, shirting, casual and formal ranges; lingerie, swim and athleisure bases; printing and digital printing; fibres and yarns; embroidery, lace, trims and components; as well as CAD/CAM and design services connected to rapid sampling. 2026 feature areas spotlight sustainability and performance (larger Econogy Hub, circular materials, verified low-impact dyeing/finishing) and Innovation & Digital Solutions (AI-assisted design, digital product passports, supply-chain data services) so buyers can evaluate not just hand-feel and aesthetics, but traceability, recyclability and compliance practicality. Forums and trend zones align merchandising with manufacturability and MOQ/lead-time realities in China and beyond, helping teams move from trend scouting to executable assortments. The themes and zones are detailed across official and industry communications for the Spring 2026 edition.

Attendance typically blends international brand and retailer buyers, converters and garment makers, mills and dyeing/finishing houses, accessories suppliers, testing/certification bodies, and technology providers. Buyer delegations arrive with clear briefs—seasonal palettes, fabric performance windows, price ladders and ESG constraints—which steers meetings past brochure talk into feasibility (bulk lead-times, minimums, compliance documentation, fabric testing plans). For mills, the fair is a launchpad to validate new blends, handle and drape against brand targets, and align finishing routes to downstream make-ups. Associations and national pavilions organise collective showcases that simplify comparative sourcing by material family and origin; meanwhile, the onsite/online matchmaking service supports appointment scheduling and file sharing to shorten development cycles. The trade-only positioning and organiser framework are reiterated across official channels and listings.

On the floor, buyers walk complete material stories: natural fibres (cotton, linen, silk, wool) and next-gen blends; man-made and functional knits/wovens for athleisure and outdoor; denim and coating innovations that balance comfort with durability; lingerie/swim bases tuned for opacity, recovery and skin-contact comfort; prints/digital print capabilities aligned with MOQ and strike-off speed; fibres/yarns for texture and performance; and trims—zippers, buttons, labels, elastics and lace. Adjacent services include testing, certification and design/CAD that anchor claims and accelerate approvals. Side-by-side evaluation enables comparisons on hand-feel, drape, pilling, colourfastness, breathability, stretch and recovery, plus practicalities like bulk lead-times, dye-lot consistency, finishing chemistry and restricted substances management. With the innovation and sustainability zones next door, teams can resolve traceability and recyclability questions in parallel, turning samples into executable assortments with realistic delivery calendars for SS’26/27. Official fair pages and reputable media outline this exhibits matrix.

The NECC (Shanghai) hosts the spring edition with entrances, meeting rooms and services configured for high-volume buyer programs. Official planning pages publish opening times 09:00–18:00 and list the South Entrance: 168 East Yinggang Road, which logistics teams use for scheduling and access planning. The venue’s hall layout supports country/zone navigation and quick hops between material families, while metro access and hotel density keep agendas tight for international and domestic teams. For mills and solution providers moving sample racks and testing gear, the NECC contractor ecosystem and established move-in procedures reduce risk and downtime. Dates, address references and operating hours are specified on the organiser’s planning and facts pages.

The show is organised by Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd., with pre-registration and Connect PLUS matchmaking supporting appointment setting, message exchange and file sharing for exhibitors and verified buyers. This backbone ensures that traffic is qualified and oriented to outcomes—sample requests, compliance checks, price negotiations and T&A alignment—rather than casual footfall. For returning visitors, the organiser’s content program links trend forums to practical sourcing, while exhibitor services standardise stand operations and on-site visibility. Organiser attribution and the trade-only admission policy are confirmed across the official fair and trusted event listings.