Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Autumn Edition will introduce a multi-sensory approach to trend forecasting when it returns to the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) from 25-27 August 2026. Under the theme A Quest for Essence, the Intertextile Directions Trends for Autumn/Winter 2027-28 explore how the textile industry can respond to uncertainty by embracing emotional resilience, creativity, craftsmanship and material innovation.
The Intertextile Directions Trend Forum will showcase a curated selection of fabrics and accessories organised around three themes – Feel Your Serenity, Live Your Emotions and Play Your Role. Exhibitors from across the exhibition will contribute fabric samples illustrating each direction, allowing visitors to identify trend-led materials and connect directly with suppliers.
For the first time, the Trend Forum will also incorporate fragrance to create an immersive experience. Developed in collaboration with Notes Shanghai, a niche fragrance exhibition within the Messe Frankfurt portfolio, and featuring fragrances supplied by dsm-firmenich, the installation will combine textiles, colour and scent to enhance visitors’ emotional and sensory engagement with the seasonal trends.
The trend concept has been developed by Elementi Moda of Milan, Museative of New York, NellyRodi of Paris and Sachiko Inoue of Tokyo, bringing together international fashion intelligence to encourage designers to move beyond neutrality and explore more expressive, imaginative collections.
Feel Your Serenity focuses on balance, mobility and wellbeing, using soft whites, muted neutrals and comforting tones alongside materials including second-skin stretch jerseys, rubberised peach-skin fabrics, techno taffetas, iridescent nylon, plush blankets and cosy fleece. The theme is complemented by the Peach Fuzz fragrance, combining peachy musks with creamy florals.
Live Your Emotions celebrates everyday simplicity through natural colour palettes and heritage-inspired materials including felted worsted wools, Shetlands, tweeds, corduroy and workwear denim, alongside performance jerseys, coated canvases and outdoor fabrics. The accompanying Nanaland fragrance blends banana and spices with gourmand notes to reinforce the theme’s playful optimism.
Play Your Role embraces theatricality and luxurious expression, combining rich couture colours with precious fibres and decorative fabrics such as cashmere-silk blends, organza, brocades, voile, plumetis and tapestry-inspired jacquards. The accompanying Sandal Whisper fragrance combines saffron, oud, florals and sandalwood to create an atmosphere of refined opulence.
Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics is co-organised by Messe Frankfurt (HK), the Sub-Council of Textile Industry, CCPIT, and the China Textile Information Center. The exhibition will again be held alongside Yarn Expo Autumn, CHIC and PH Value, bringing together the full apparel textile value chain under one roof.
The above content is reproduced from“Knitting Industry”