Interstoff Asia Essential is carving a niche for itself as the premium sourcing destination for specialist eco-textiles and functional fabrics. The 2007 autumn fair, which ran from 3 – 5 October at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, showcased a wide range of fabrics made with organic and eco-friendly, natural products, and those with multiple functions and special properties.
With approximately half of the 222 exhibitors showing in the categories “eco-textiles” or “functional fabrics”, and a concurrent programme of seminars and presentations providing details on trends, technology and applications, the show was a powerful resource for buyers seeking new and pioneering products available in the world fabric market. Over 8,500 buyers from 55 countries and regions visited the fair.
“Interstoff Asia Essential’s remit covers all types of garment fabrics and accessories. Over the past few years however, a clear trend towards eco-friendliness and functionality has been seen in the fashion world,” says Katy Lam, Director of Trade Fairs for Messe Frankfurt – the show organiser.
“The evolution of Interstoff Asia Essential as a premium sourcing ground for textile buyers with a green conscience has happened fairly quickly, largely due to Hong Kong’s pivotal sourcing and design role for the garment manufacturing industry in Asia.
It’s a process we intend to actively cultivate and promote; we believe it is absolutely necessary for the Asian textileindustry to have a platform where it can showcase its very best, most specialised and most technologically advanced fabrics. That is what sets Interstoff Asia Essential apart from other fabric shows”.
As part of the fair’s development, two new trend areas, the “21st Century Wardrobe” and the “Eco-Textiles: Fabrics That Care”, were set-up to showcase functional fabrics and eco-textiles respectively.
Over 300 fabrics were shown in these special displays in autumn 2007, including ‘eco’ products made from organic cotton, bamboo, soybean, hemp, and milk proteins, and those retaining multiple invisible functions such as protective (against ultra-violet, radiation, electro-magnetism, flame-resistant), hygienic (anti-fungal, anti-microbial, anti-mite), and comforting (cool-feel, moisture transfer, aromatic, thermal, lightweight).
Eco-textile exhibitors at the fair could be easily identified by a green or silver leaf logo on their stand; the green logo signifying fabrics made with environmentally-friendly materials, and the silver logo signifying an entirely eco-friendly manufacturing process.
Ms Echo Mok of world-leading cellulose fibre-maker Lenzing AG – the only Interstoff Asia Essential exhibitor to have been given the coveted Silver Leaf logo in recognition of its European Environmental Award – was impressed by the level of interest in environmental issues amongst Asian buyers at the fair.
“Lenzing launched it’s “Botanic Principle” earlier this year in Paris, where it received a great deal of interest. I didn’t expect to see them same here in Asia, but I have been proved wrong. Asian buyers want to know about fair trade, organic products, sustainability – they are keenly interested in these topics which are very current in today’s garment world.
It is not really busy here, but in my opinion the visitor traffic level is just right; there is time enough for us to sit with each customer and really explain our products and processes. This show is very valuable for the industry – there is no doubt that Interstoff Asia is still very important.”
