Chic, zero-carbon fabrics showcasing latest R&D attract international buyers

At a textile trade show in Canada this week, Chinese companies showcased a wide range of apparel and expressed optimism in the Canadian market.

The eighth Apparel Textile Sourcing Canada, or ATSC, exhibition was held at Toronto Congress Center from Monday to Wednesday.

The exhibition was sponsored by the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Textiles, or CCCT, and the Jiangsu Council for the Promotion of International Trade, with the Canadian Apparel Federation as a co-organizer.

"This year, Chinese companies have shown high enthusiasm in participating in the exhibition and their expectations for the Canadian market," Zhang Xinmin, vice-president of CCCT, said.

Zhang said that after years of development, the exhibition has become the first choice for Chinese textile and apparel enterprises if they want to enter the Canadian market.

"It is the most professional and influential international textile and apparel procurement exhibition in Canada," Zhang said. "I hope that this event will promote the recovery and development of China-Canada textile and garment trade."

The trade show attracted exhibitors from more than 20 countries, including the United States, India, Mexico, Bangladesh, Mongolia and Indonesia. Over 3,000 visitors were expected to come to the exhibition.

China has the largest country pavilion, with more than 120 Chinese exhibitors from across the country. Textiles, clothing and other products from Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shandong and Liaoning were among those featured at the pavilion.

Forums, lectures

Industry experts from around the world participated in the exhibition's forums and also gave a series of lectures covering topics impacting the industry today, such as green sustainable development, supply chain security, digital marketing and e-commerce.

The China Brand Promotion Fashion Show and International Fashion Show were held on the second day of the exhibition.

Some major Chinese brands flaunted their designs at the shows with China-chic, zero-carbon materials and fabrics that showcased the latest R&D.

Brands such as Aparso, Rusy & Cindy, Sino-Italy Apparel, Weiqiao Pioneering, Mengdi, Detex Garments, Orient New Horizon, Dahua and Huasheng attracted several international buyers with their high-quality textiles and clothing.

Mo Jing, a representative from Jiangsu, told the media that their products are aimed to match the North American market.

"We consider the characteristics of Canada's severe cold in winter to design and bring in relevant products," she said.

Zhang Tong, general manager of the North American business department at Zhejiang Textiles Import and Export Group, said the overall foreign trade market was weak during the COVID-19 pandemic. But as a supplier of customer-specific clothing fabrics, the company's client base remained generally stable.

"We hope to further expand our overseas customer base and enhance the overseas influence of Chinese brands through this exhibition," he said.

Canada's apparel imports underwent a series of fluctuations in the first half of this year, marked by a marginal overall decline of 0.52 percent, according to official data.

Despite a drop in Canada's apparel imports, several countries managed to maintain positive momentum of their exports into the country.

Among them, India, Vietnam and China emerged as standout performers, defying the challenging landscape. The respective apparel exports of those countries amounted to $221.6 million (up 1.49 percent), $741 million (up 1.18 percent), and $1.5 billion (up 0.27 percent).