As an industry leader, the Regentech-Fashion textile expert team returned from the Shanghai Intertextile Autumn 2025, bringing firsthand insights into how fabrics are shaping the future axis of the global fashion industry.
The exhibition highlighted two clear signs:
- The era of “appearance + function” is firmly established.
- The participation of big-name brands and global suppliers makes the exhibition an influential hub of ideas and future textile trends.
Rising Strategic Position of Fabrics
Today, fabrics are no longer a supporting role in clothing design—they are a strategic factor in competitiveness. While style aesthetics remain important, functional attributes such as sun protection, antibacterial performance, and temperature regulation are now essential.
Key Insight: Designers should evaluate whether fabric functions align with brand positioning and usage scenarios, not just visual appeal.
Functional Fabrics and Scenario-Based Applications
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Trending directions: outdoor, sporty, and new Chinese style.
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Automatic temperature control fabrics are gaining attention amid growing concerns about climate change.
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Fabric classification is shifting from component-based categories to scenario-based categories, such as commuting, light urban sports, and outdoor activities.
Key Insight: Scenario-based thinking reshapes fabric supply. Designers can reverse-engineer required functions based on end-use scenarios.
Material Blending and Pragmatic Innovation
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Traditional pure cotton, lace, and chiffon are becoming less prevalent.
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Blends like cotton-linen-Tencel dominate, emphasizing practicality.
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Exhibitors also showcased plant fiber blends, a highlight that drew strong interest from buyers.
Key Insight: Blended fabrics strike a balance between cost, performance, and experience, and are becoming a standard choice for future collections.
Sustainability and Eco-Friendly Materials
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Recycled polyester and recycled fibers are now industry standards.
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Innovative materials, such as crab shell fiber and reed grass fiber, were also presented.
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Global brands are mandating the use of recycled inputs, with ESG compliance now a hard requirement.
Key Insight: Brands and mills must establish a traceable, sustainable system, or risk exclusion from future sourcing opportunities.
Big-Name Brands Showcase Leadership
The big-name effect of this exhibition was strong, enhancing trust and global appeal:
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Premium Wool Zone & Milano Unica Pavilion: Abraham Moon & Sons (UK), Albini (Italy), Cavallo 1886 (Italy), Scabal NV/SA (UK).
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Functional fabrics: Hyosung, Lenzing, LYCRA, Sorona. Lenzing launched ultra-fine fibers for intimate apparel.
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Sustainable innovation: Itochu Corporation (Japan), Fibrant (Netherlands), Wendler Einlagen (Germany).
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Digital solutions: Shima Seiki, Quaternion, and Symmpix introduced AI forecasting, 3D sampling, and digital fabric passports.
Key Insight: Following leading brands enables the timely capture of emerging fashion and textile trends.
International Supply Chain and Exhibition Ecosystem
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Over 3,700 exhibitors from 26 countries and regions participated.
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Exhibition areas were more diverse and international compared with 2024 (nearly 4,000 exhibitors).
Key Insight: Supply chain globalization is deepening. Domestic players must enhance their international communication and foster cross-border cooperation.
Awakening of Brand Service Awareness
Many suppliers are:
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Offering ready-to-ship fabrics.
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Using storytelling displays to build brand image.
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Moving from “selling fabrics” to “selling solutions.”
Key Insight: Fashion brands should evaluate suppliers’ service quality and brand power, not just price.
Industry Predicaments and Development Gaps
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Truly, new fabrics are still limited—many are extensions of past collections.
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Sales staff often struggle to explain technical functions clearly.
Key Insight: The industry needs systematic R&D and professional training to translate fabric functions into a true competitive advantage.
Knowledge Exchange Moving Towards Openness
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Forums and trend sessions (WGSN, HKRITA, OEKO-TEX®) were highly valuable.
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Many attendees reported that listening to trend analysis was more rewarding than simply walking the booths.
Key Insight: For designers and buyers, exhibitions serve as valuable knowledge hubs. Participating with questions in mind can yield unexpected insights.
Conclusion: Fabrics as the New Axis of the Industry
The Shanghai Intertextile 2025 Autumn/Winter Exhibition is no longer just a display platform—it is a trendsetter. Fabrics have transformed:
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From accessory to strategic driver,
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From function-driven to scenario-driven,
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From products to brands.
The participation of leading global suppliers further underscores the exhibition’s importance, as sustainability and digitalization become inevitable paths forward.
Practical Advice for Designers and Fabric Professionals
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Integrate functional + scenario orientation into product development.
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Prioritize blended and eco-friendly materials.
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Partner with leading solution providers to gain cutting-edge insights.
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Attend forums to gain trend knowledge and network.
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Strengthen team technical training and communication skills.
👉 Explore Our Latest Sustainable & Functional Fabric Collections At Regentech Fashion, we continue to innovate with performance knits, eco-friendly blends, and sustainable textiles showcased at Intertextile 2025.
🔗 Contact us today to request swatches or discuss collaboration.
