The 20th Shanghai International Textile Industry Exhibition Opens: Green and Intelligent Technologies Lead a New Wave of Industry Transformation

The 20th Shanghai International Textile Industry Exhibition grandly opened at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre. Marking its highly anticipated return after a six-year hiatus, the exhibition has attracted widespread attention from the global textile industry.

As one of Asia's largest and most influential textile industrial events, this edition occupies all halls of the Shanghai New International Expo Centre, with a total exhibition area nearing 180,000 square meters.

Nearly 2,000 leading enterprises from 25 countries and regions, including Germany, Italy, Switzerland, and Japan, gathered at the event. Prominent domestic and international companies such as CHTC Group, Pacific Mechatronic Group, and Oerlikon showcased their latest technologies and products.

The exhibition's theme focuses on two major directions: "Green" and "Intelligent," which precisely reflects the core trends in the current global textile industry development. In the "Green Textile" zone, a series of eco-friendly innovative technologies drew significant attention.

Waterless dyeing technology became a key highlight, with several companies demonstrating dyeing processes that use almost zero water, saving over 99% of water resources compared to traditional methods.

Another noteworthy breakthrough is in recycled fiber technology, including regenerated polyester fibers extracted from discarded plastic bottles and recycled cotton fibers recovered from textile waste. These materials are not only environmentally friendly but also maintain performance comparable to traditional materials.

Intelligent transformation emerged as another major highlight of this year's exhibition. In the intelligent weaving zone, fully automated robotic spinning and weaving production lines demonstrated the potential of "lights-out factories"—enabling continuous operation with minimal human intervention.

Digital design and integrated production solutions garnered considerable interest. Several companies showcased rapid conversion systems from virtual design to physical samples. After designers complete their work on computers, data can be directly transmitted to production equipment, significantly shortening the product development cycle.

The most engaging feature for visitors was the personalized customization system. Consumers can select fabrics, styles, and patterns via a mobile app, with order information directly transmitted to intelligent production lines, enabling flexible manufacturing that supports "single-piece orders and rapid delivery."

The exhibition serves not only as a platform for technological display but also as a barometer for industry trends. The "short-chain" and "nearshoring" of supply chains became focal points of discussion among many enterprises.

Against the backdrop of increasingly stringent sustainability requirements, end-to-end traceability systems have become a new competitive edge. Multiple companies launched product traceability platforms based on blockchain technology, allowing consumers to scan a product QR code to access information about its entire lifecycle—from raw materials to finished goods.

A relevant official from the China Textile and Apparel Council (CNTAC) noted that despite challenges such as fluctuations in global market demand, technological innovation and green development are becoming key pathways for the industry to overcome difficulties. The technologies and concepts showcased at this exhibition are expected to inject new momentum into the high-quality development of the textile sector.

The integration of green and intelligent technologies is no longer merely an exhibition theme but an irreversible evolution direction for the entire textile industry. This ancient sector is redefining its future through the power of technology, and the Shanghai International Textile Industry Exhibition acts as a mirror, reflecting every detail and possibility of this transformation.