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Fibres/​Yarns

Yarn Expo Autumn provides boost with offline and online elements

419 exhibitors from six countries and regions – China, Hong Kong, India, Pakistan, the US and Vietnam – took part in the fair

29th September 2020

Knitting Industry
 |  Shanghai

Knitted Outerwear

According to show organisers Messe Frankfurt, Yarn Expo once again proved its importance to the industry as a vital business hub, and additionally this year as a chance to reconnect and recover both in-person and virtually. As one of the first yarn and fibre industry events to take place since the outbreak of the pandemic, the fair is said to have been widely praised by international and Chinese companies for helping their businesses to make up lost ground.

419 exhibitors from six countries and regions – China, Hong Kong, India, Pakistan, the US and Vietnam – took part in the fair, with 15,707 visitors sourcing in-person from 23-25 September at Shanghai’s National Exhibition and Convention Center.

“We are very pleased that we have been able to successfully hold the Yarn Expo and Intertextile Apparel fairs in both Shenzhen in July and now in Shanghai on schedule this year, as we know how many companies rely on these platforms to generate new business and foster existing relationships,” Ms Wendy Wen, Senior General Manager of Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd explained.

“From the feedback from participants this week, it’s clear these events have provided a real boost to help their businesses to make up some of the ground lost earlier in the year, and to look forward to the seasons ahead with some confidence. What’s more, the chance to reconnect in-person was widely acclaimed, while the new online platforms have been especially well-received by international exhibitors and buyers who were unable to be physically in Shanghai this year as a further increase to their outcomes from the fairs.”

Overseas zone

Further ensuring Yarn Expo answered the current and future needs of the industry, a number of themed areas and events featured at the fair. This included the China Fibre Fashion Trends Display Zone, China Knitted Fancy Yarn Trends Display Zone, New Fibre Horizon – Textile Material Innovation Forum and Product Launch Conference.

Exhibitor impressions

Exhibitors were enthusiastic about their first opportunity to showcase their products this year.

“Yarn Expo is important to the yarn and fabric industry in times like this, especially when it serves as a communication platform for companies large and small to share market information and promote their new products. Holding a physical event is also crucial for businesses as buyers need to look at the products in person. The fair is professional with a wide range of products on offer. We’ve got excellent results this year as there’s been a fourfold increase in visitor enquiries,” said Ms Li Shaoping, Senior Manager, Cotton Council International, Hong Kong.

The overseas zone of this year’s Yarn Expo. © Messe Frankfurt.

“This is our first time exhibiting at Yarn Expo. Our business has experienced growth amid the pandemic, so we’ve brought a number of anti-bacterial products to the fair. The feedback on them has been positive. Having face-to-face interactions with clients again, rather than communicating online, has proven to be more effective. Many visitors came to the fair to source. The turnout has been higher than I expected, and we’ve already met with a number of potential customers, ” said Mr Kent Wang, Sales Director, Shanghai Xinya New Material Technology Co Ltd, China.

Buyer opinions

Buyers were equally enthusiastic about what they found at the event.

“We always visit both editions of Yarn Expo to check out the new trends. This year, especially after the pandemic, we really needed to be here to see how the textile industry is going to evolve. I’ve attended a few seminars and they are very inspiring. Last year, we purchased a seaweed fibre that I learned about in a seminar. I really prefer sourcing in a physical fair because it’s much easier when I can meet face-to-face with the suppliers, as well as touch the products to feel the quality. Yarn Expo is the most professional fair of its kind in China, so I’m very glad the autumn edition went ahead as planned. It’s been an effective sourcing trip,” explained Ms Maggie Lu, Sourcing Manager, Orkla Group Procurement Hub Shanghai, China.

“I’m mainly sourcing functional fibres for our new product development. I was able to find some suitable suppliers in the fair and products for our new product development. Yarn Expo is a regular event in the textile industry calendar that everyone will attend because it always offer the most comprehensive sourcing options compared to other similar fairs,” said    

Ms Yolanda Wang, Senior Product Development Engineer, Personal Protective Equipment, Honeywell SPS, USA

Yarn Expo Autumn 2020 was held concurrently with Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Autumn Edition, PH Value and CHIC, providing a concentrated overview of the latest trends and developments in the textile sector.

The next edition of the fair, Yarn Expo Spring, will take place from 10 – 12 March 2021, once again at the National Exhibition and Convention Center alongside the four concurrent fairs.

Yarn Expo is organised by Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd and the Sub-Council of Textile Industry, CCPIT.

For more details on the upcoming fair, please visit: https://yarn-expo-autumn.hk.messefrankfurt.com. .

To find out more about all Messe Frankfurt textile fairs worldwide, please visit: http://texpertise-network.messefrankfurt.com.

www.messefrankfurt.com

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