China’s rapidly expanding pet economy is opening fresh opportunities for textile suppliers, as pet apparel evolves from novelty outfits into a sizeable, performance-driven category. With the domestic market for pet clothing valued at RMB 3.5 billion in 2024 and growing by more than 20% annually, Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Spring Edition 2026 will introduce a dedicated Pet Boutique to help exhibitors and buyers tap into this emerging demand.

The new display area will present innovative materials designed specifically for pets, with a focus on comfort, durability and functional performance. Located adjacent to a restructured Functional Lab, the Pet Boutique will also complement the fair’s Econogy Hub, where sustainability is increasingly being paired with technical properties to meet shifting global sourcing requirements.

With pet ownership and annual spending per animal continuing to rise, China’s pet market is forecast to reach RMB 1.15 trillion by 2028. Against this backdrop, the Pet Boutique will allow textile suppliers to showcase pet-ready fabrics, accessories and apparel in a targeted setting. Confirmed participants include Lenzing, highlighting renewable wood-based fibres for pet products; Idole, using Solotex to develop textiles that combine fashion and function; as well as SilkİPEK Tekstil, Heng Li String and Braid, G.K Infinite and others.

The fair’s organisers noted that younger consumers born in the 1990s and 2000s are accelerating demand for premium pet products, while functional garments such as odour control solutions and protection against cold or wet weather now account for more than 60% of China’s pet apparel market. This emphasis on performance aligns closely with the Pet Boutique’s positioning beside Functional Lab.

For 2026, Functional Lab will expand in scale by more than 30% compared with the previous Spring Edition, reflecting the growing popularity of outdoor activities among Chinese consumers. Within the zone, The Cube will introduce a new product presentation and display format, modelled on the integrated layout seen at Econogy Hub. Key exhibitors include 3M China, which will showcase its Thinsulate Insulation technology, and Hyosung, which will feature a range of Creora materials for applications spanning warming, cooling, weight and colour. Additional participants include knitted fabric specialists Regen-tech Fashion, Henglun Textile and HiLite Textile.

Sustainability will also remain a key focus at Econogy Hub, which has grown in size for the upcoming edition. The zone will provide a platform for suppliers presenting eco-friendly textiles that combine fashion and function, alongside certification and traceability providers. Featured exhibitors include Ecocert, Peelsphere, and TextileGenesis, a Lectra company, which offers traceability and market compliance solutions for premium and sustainable textiles.

Buyers with sustainability targets will be able to identify relevant suppliers through the Econogy Finder directory, supported by the independent Econogy Check verification system. Notable fibre and textile producers highlighted for the upcoming fair include Asahi Kasei, Eastman and Grasim Industries, as well as eco-denim suppliers Burlington and Diamond Fabrics, which will participate in Econogy Hub for the first time.

Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Spring Edition 2026 will take place from 11-13 March 2026 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), with more than 3,000 exhibitors expected across 190,000 sqm. The event is co-organised by Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, the Sub-Council of Textile Industry CCPIT, and the China Textile Information Centre, and will be held alongside Yarn Expo Spring, Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles – Spring Edition, CHIC and PH Value.

www.intertextileapparel.com