Keqiao Textile City is seeing a concentrated wave of autumn-winter fabric inquiries ahead of National Day, but the real story is not the rebound in foot traffic — it is the shift in order structure. According to industry data, market traffic rose noticeably in mid-to-late September compared with August, yet the average order size has narrowed year-on-year as downstream brands control inventory risk through trial orders. This means higher seasonal volume does not translate into higher margins, and fabric suppliers' production planning and profit models are being rewritten.
Category Divergence Under Stocking Peak
Thermal fabrics, woolen, knitted stretch and brushed fabrics are the four hottest categories in this stocking cycle. Cooling temperatures are driving concentrated demand for autumn-winter apparel and home textile fabrics, with plain bedding, wedding series and sofa fabrics also picking up in the home textile zone. Behind this divergence are two consumer trends: rigid demand for functional warmth and soft-furnishing replenishment from home renovation. For upstream yarn and chemical fiber producers, the window for differentiated fibers is shorter than for conventional varieties, and stocking must align strictly with apparel launch cycles.
Small-Batch Quick-Response Reshapes Trading
The most notable feature this year is that small-batch quick-response has replaced bulk ordering. Downstream brands are cautious about inventory, mostly placing small trial orders, resulting in a market characterized by rising volumes, stable prices and fragmented orders. Merchants report that walk-in customers have increased since mid-to-late September, with many rushing to confirm sample fabrics before the National Day holiday and scheduling production after it. Stores are sending out dozens of color cards daily, with online inquiries and offline inspections happening simultaneously.
The impact on factory scheduling is substantial. Orders that once ran thousands of meters per style are now split into multiple batches of a few hundred meters, raising changeover frequency and increasing switching costs for dyeing and weaving. For buyers, fragmented orders mean tighter lead times and higher communication costs. For factories, it demands more flexible production organization and faster sampling response. Those who can maintain stable quality and delivery under small-batch mode will win repeat business during peak season.
Raw Material Volatility and Export Preferences
Raw material prices are a shared concern among merchants. Industry data shows that upstream chemical fiber and cotton yarn prices have been fluctuating upward recently, with cost pressure transmitting to the fabric end. Merchants are more cautious in taking orders, insisting on case-by-case negotiation and strictly controlling order risk. The transmission lag is typically two to four weeks; if raw materials continue to rise, some previously quoted orders may face margin inversion.
On the export side, the picture is different. Overseas buyers prefer eco-friendly recycled and functional fabrics, which command stronger pricing power. Merchants are proactively reducing stock of ordinary commodity goods and shifting focus to new materials and processes, from waterproof-breathable and anti-static fabrics to recycled polyester and eco-friendly dyeing. The exhibition-market linkage model continues to work, with merchants moving from passively waiting for customers to actively connecting with trade shows and overseas buyers. Online-offline integration is becoming the norm.