The textile and apparel section of the 139th China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair) officially kicked off on May 1 at the Canton Fair Complex in Guangzhou, running through May 5 as a core part of the fair’s third phase. As the world’s largest and most influential import and export exhibition for textile and apparel products, this session gathers a host of outstanding enterprises from home and abroad, showcasing cutting-edge products, innovative designs and sustainable development achievements of the global textile and apparel industry.

This year’s textile and apparel exhibition zone has further expanded its scale, with more than 1,000 professional exhibitors participating, covering a full industrial chain including men’s and women’s ready-to-wear, sportswear, underwear, fashion accessories, functional fabrics, home textiles and textile raw materials. In response to the upgrading trend of global consumer demand, exhibitors have focused on launching a wealth of innovative products featuring sustainability, intelligent functionality and cultural integration, highlighting the industry’s transformation toward high-quality development.

A large number of eco-friendly textile products have become a major highlight of the exhibition. Recycled polyester, organic cotton, Tencel and other low-carbon environmental protection materials are widely used in garment and fabric production, and most products have obtained international green certification such as GRS. Meanwhile, technical textile products with functions like temperature regulation, moisture wicking, water resistance and antibacterial properties are highly sought-after by international buyers, meeting the diversified needs of modern consumers for both comfort and performance.

In terms of design, the exhibition fully integrates traditional Chinese cultural elements with modern fashion aesthetics. Innovative designs such as modernized Qipao, improved horseface skirts and garments with Chinese ink painting and embroidery elements have blended oriental charm into international fashion, winning wide acclaim from overseas purchasers. At the same time, casual-luxury ready-to-wear, minimalist tailored clothing and versatile outdoor apparel lead the global fashion trend, reflecting the diversified and personalized development direction of the apparel market.

Benefiting from the Canton Fair’s strong global influence, the exhibition has attracted a surge in international buyers. The number of pre-registered overseas buyers has increased by 20% year-on-year, covering more than 200 countries and regions, with a notable growth in purchasers from countries along the Belt and Road, Latin America and Africa. Professional one-stop procurement services, intelligent matching platforms and on-site negotiation zones have greatly improved the efficiency of trade exchanges, building a solid bridge for cooperation between global textile and apparel enterprises.

As a barometer of global textile and apparel trade, the opening of this exhibition not only demonstrates the strong resilience and innovative vitality of the industry but also builds an open and inclusive trade platform for global merchants. It is expected to further promote the recovery and prosperity of international textile and apparel trade, and boost the high-quality development of the global textile industry chain and supply chain.