Interstoff Asia Essential, Hong Kong’s leading trade fair for fashionable, functional and eco textiles and accessories, returns from 25 – 27 September 2013. Held at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre in halls 5B & C, the Autumn Edition promises visitors access to the latest textiles and accessories, cutting-edge fashion, trend inspiration for next season and insights into market developments.
The 2012 fair saw some 6,500 visitors from 43 countries and regions attend, with similar numbers expected this year. Ms Wendy Wen, Senior General Manager of fair organiser Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, explains the importance of Interstoff Asia Essential and its location. “Hong Kong is in a unique position on the doorstep of the booming Chinese economy.
"This fair is an ideal opportunity for exhibitors from around the world to meet with buyers from this market who are looking specifically for high-end textiles and accessories,” she said. “While for visitors, they gain access to cutting-edge textiles suppliers, in particular from China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Taiwan.”
Promising trade figures provide optimism for textile industry this year and beyond
Rebounding from a slower 2012, Hong Kong’s textile exports in January grew by 40%. Most of this growth came from re-exports from China, which account for 98% of Hong Kong’s textile exports. Hong Kong’s location makes it the ideal place for doing business in mainland China, with 72% of these re-exports originating from there.
Increasingly the textiles industry is using Hong Kong as a gateway to other Asian countries. Nine of the top 10 countries for Hong Kong’s textile exports are in Asia, with exports to the region accounting for 92% of the total. Because this fair features a strong presence from Asian suppliers – with exhibitors already confirmed from China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Taiwan – this allows buyers from around the world to take advantage of Hong Kong’s proximity to China and status as a hub within Asia to do business in the region.
New September date will better suit exhibitors and visitors
This year Interstoff Asia Essential has been moved forward to September to better suit the sourcing needs of buyers and suppliers within the region. Commenting on this change, Ms Wen said: “We’ve listened to feedback from our exhibitors and visitors, and the overwhelming preference has been for an earlier date due to the changing sourcing times within the region. We believe this new date will allow more business to be conducted immediately after the fair.”
And the fair will move to halls 5B & C for this edition, still within the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre.
