Intertextile Shanghai to Feature Beyond Denim Zone

Intertextile Shanghai will feature a specialised Beyond Denim zone with over 110 exhibitors from countries like China, Japan, Pakistan and Turkey. They provide sourcing options for the industry, from fabrics for ladieswear and menswear, to high-end wool fabrics, original pattern designs, functional and performance fabrics, and sustainability products.

These exhibitors are in addition to some 3,300 exhibitors from around 22 countries and regions at the fair. As the global textile industry’s most comprehensive sourcing summit for the spring / summer season, Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics is the ideal place to find the latest developments in product innovation and sustainability.

The zone will have display by Orta Anadolu which will feature Bioware denim, enriched with mineralised volcanic ash to create an odour absorbing effect. This technology captures and absorbs odour compounds that would normally pass through the fabric, neutralising bad bacteria while retaining the helpful bacteria that common deodorisers, which contain harsh substances, normally eliminate. This leads to a more environmentally friendly product that is better for the user’s skin. Volcanic ash is not uncommon in beauty products – it is known as Mother Nature’s skin purifier after all, and used as an exfoliator for example – but it is far less common in the textile industry.

Orta will also be presenting Biocharge at Intertextile, which, according to the company, is the world’s first denim fabric for muscle wellness. Infused with minerals, Biocharge is medically proven to refresh muscles, relieve muscle tension and optimise body balance. They will also present their Bounce stretch range, with high elasticity and a ‘street’ style, while Chronicle, another in their S/S 19 range, is a blend of heritage and future styles.

Another innovative denim firm exhibiting at Intertextile Shanghai, and another blending old and new, is US Denim Mills. According to the company, their collection at the fair will “harness tomorrow’s textile advances to revitalise the great style visions of the past by adding fashion, comfort, performance and sustainability advantages to authentic denim looks.” This collection includes Selvedge, Stretch, SoftWear, and Sustainable.

Well aware of the effect denim production has on the environment, Kipas Denim’s multi-faceted programme to address this is one of the most comprehensive in the denim sector. Their recycled yarn initiative includes recycling waste yarn from the production process, while it also takes waste cotton yarn and blends it with Repreve fibres to create an eco-friendly denim fabric. Kipas also uses BCI cotton and organic cotton, and targets each to be 15 per cent and five per cent of total consumption, respectively. Furthermore, their Conservablue technology aims to reduce the environmental impact of the dyeing process by eliminating the use of rinsing overflow boxes before and after the indigo dye boxes, as well as ensuring 100 per cent of applied dyestuff remains on the yarn in the rinsing bath.

As well as the overseas offerings, a wide range of domestic denim exhibitors covering all price and quality points will also feature in Beyond Denim. Some of the more notable brands participating include Advance Denim, Black Peony, Guangzhou Foison and Prosperity Textile.

The market is changing and so must apparel and textile manufacturers. Low prices and discounts are no longer driving sales the way they used to. Today’s consumer wants better quality, appreciates new technology and is evolving their casualwear style. This is the premise behind the Invista-sponsored panel discussion which will take place at the fair. Titled ‘Denim’s Next Move – New Opportunities to Keep Growing Sales of Jeans and Casualwear at Retail’, participants will learn what consumers really want in jeans and casualwear, the return of chinos and new fabric technologies that are energising casualwear.

The panel will be moderated by Jane Singer, Director and Head of Market Development at Inside Fashion. Panellists will include representatives from Advance Denim, Guangzhou Conshing Clothing Group, Prosperity Textile and Texhong who will share their latest innovations that will help brands and retailers drive sales and profits.