The 20th session of Spinexpo is said to have ended in a positive climate of global satisfaction just before an enormous storm which turned the exhibition hall into multiple waterfalls. “We can only thank the Gods for planning this storm right after the closing time, escaping from a real flood during the show,” organisers exclaimed at the close of the show.

The show which was held in Shanghai from 4-6 September, celebrated ten years of successful activity in the promotion of textile fibres, yarns, knitwear and knitted fabrics, gathering together more than 200 international exhibitors from 20 countries.  

“The exhibition continually sophisticates its presentation, backed by the exhibiting companies who care more and more about their image internationally and have helped the organizers to make Spinexpo the n° 1 exhibition in the spinning industry,” organisers said in a statement.

2,211 trade visitors from 47 countries outside China attended the 20th session, with an additional 8,811 Chinese trade visitors for a total attendance of 11,022 trade visitors and 18,985 multi-entries.

The exhibition has grown on a steady, regular basis: 10,936 visitors in September 2011, 10,285 in March 2012, and 11,022 for this session, an increase of around 8 %, showing a slight decrease in Chinese visitors but an increase of international visitors (2,211 versus 1,943 for the season of reference).

Optimism from Japan and USA

“Regarding visitors’ research and demands, we noticed a more optimistic attitude from Japan and the USA, with a focus on novelty and quality products. The European visitors’ mood was the reverse with a more cautious attitude and lower quantities in mind, paying close attention to price, but with a constant research for quality,” said show chief Karine van Tassel.

“The Chinese trade visitors came to the show facing a situation where their shops are well stocked but needed to complement and upgrade. Spinexpo, positioning itself as a show with a middle to high end level of offering, played its part in guaranteeing that such products were on display.”

“It is easy to forecast that lower level spinning companies will suffer from the present situation when Spinexpo exhibitors are not so concerned. The fact that they mostly target export also helps, the balance between domestic and export sales being well balanced.”

“This season we welcomed knitwear manufacturers for the first time, and will continue this new offer in the future with more personalized stands and a different zone to enable the visitors to find potential suppliers in an easier way.”

Sophie Steller Studios

The trend area remains the heart of the show, under the direction of Sophie Steller Studios (U.K.) now a partner to the show. Its challenge is to offer developments made with the yarns from 40 plus major spinners exhibiting at the show.

Many designers work under her direction, offering a different handwriting of the proposed trends, ranging from new stitches and swatch developments to finished products knitted primarily by Brilliant Global from Hong Kong and Shenzhen Meilian Company from China.

A range of menswear, womenswear and childrenswear was on display in the four circular trend areas which focuses on “Writing the Next Chapter”, the headline of the trends. Other trend displays offered different aspects of exhibitors’ products at the show.

The marketing trend area, a ‘library’ representing the skeins and swatches of each exhibiting company, enabled the visitors to better understand each of the exhibitors’ specialization complemented by a “lounge area” where visitors can check the creative team’s sources of inspiration while relaxing and sorting their notes.

“We also presented the work of two departments from Nottingham Trent University (U.K.) with whom Spinexpo partners, as we consider this University to be one of the leading textile universities worldwide. A complete range of products originating from 11 students was on display and was well received with a very cheerful welcome from the visitors,” Karine van Tassel said.

Santoni seamless

The result of a joint project between Beijing Institute of Fashion and Technology and Santoni China presented the interpretation and complete realization of 11 garments designed to be knitted on Santoni new seamless knitwear machines.

The students spent 10 days at Santoni Shanghai factory, assisted by Italian technicians, and offered very interesting and innovative garments, complementing the presentation of Santoni’s stand where more commercial styles were on display.

Two fibre companies joined the exhibition with specific projects: The Woolmark Company presenting their A/W2013-14 Trend Lab, a visual presentation of developments accompanied by a series of seminars, and South Africa Mohair who illustrated developments made with the yarns from their spinners and customers at the show, showing all aspects of this dual season fibre.

Jiangsu Lugang Science and Technology came to the 20th session with a special introduction of their upper range products, with two collections, Sinfonia and Armonia elaborated by Filatura di Malpenga - Biella Italy. A special series of catwalks took place during the first two days of the show styled by Beijing Institute of Fashion and Technology featuring newly launched yarn collections and lines of products.

Spinexpo also welcomed a group of 13 exhibitors from Italy, who exhibited under the banner of “Workshop of Italian Yarns of Excellence”, supported by the Sistema Moda Italia and the Shanghai Italian Trade Commission, complementing the offer of the other 16 regular Italian Companies at the show, strengthening the presence of European spinners at the show.

Organisers say visitors from the sweater industry continue to increase in number and quality, as well as knitted fabrics users and socks manufacturers, with a decrease for knitted fabrics for hosiery and weaving for clothing. Trends are definitely in knits rather than woven fabrics