The scorching July heat did not deter buyers. On July 15, the 33rd Haining Leather Fashion Expo opened, spreading 26,000 square meters of exhibition space with over 100 brands and thousands of new autumn-winter products. For the industry, this is not just an annual ordering event but a window to observe the evolving direction of leather and seasonal fashion. After 33 years, this specialized market is redefining its position through data, trends, and orders.
Trends and Categories: Structural Shifts in the Autumn-Winter Market
The most immediate signal came from the expansion of category boundaries. For the first time, the expo introduced a "Premium Down Jacket Zone," where brands like Benyuan Chenwu, Leya, and Oufeilan showcased lightweight, street-style down jackets. This shift reflects rising consumer demand for functional, lightweight warmth and signals Haining's transition from a single-leather category to a full-category autumn-winter fashion ecosystem.
The trend release for AW 2026/27 further revealed the industry's technological direction. Four key themes—"high-end mink fur, sustainable leather fabrics, youthful fur, and tech-driven down"—highlight two main threads: the increasing penetration of eco-friendly and sustainable materials, and the move of functional technologies like antibacterial coatings from labs to mass production. For example, the Xuebao brand, in collaboration with Lingjue and Zhongke Technology, presented 45 pieces all infused with antibacterial and antiviral coatings—not a concept but a realized supply chain achievement.
Platform Upgrade: National Endorsement Through China Fashion Week
The upgrade of Haining Fashion Week was the most strategically significant event. Originally a regional event, it received exclusive authorization from the China Fashion Week organizing committee to become "China International Fashion Week · Haining." This marks a leap from regional to national status, reflecting the China Fashion Designers Association's recognition of Haining's industrial base and design capabilities.
With the theme "Tide Rising, Co-existing," the upgraded fashion week featured 14 runway shows and over 1,000 original designs. Participants included local brands like Aokun and Shiti, Shenzhen-based COCOBELLA, Korean designer brands, and emerging talents from Nanhu College and Wuhan Institute of Design and Engineering. By integrating industry, design, local, and international elements, Haining is building a complete ecosystem covering creativity, production, and trade.
Digitalization and Dual Circulation: A Two-Pronged Path
AI technology was more than a concept at this expo. The "Picheng AI" booth showcased a full-chain digital solution, from AI-powered virtual try-ons and design assistance to marketing systems and security management. For small and medium vendors, AI-assisted design lowers the barrier to original creation, while virtual try-ons improve selection efficiency. This means the expo is no longer just an ordering venue but a testing ground for industrial digital transformation.
The integration of domestic and foreign trade was another core highlight. The expo attracted the largest number of international buyers in its history, with over 100 buyers from Russia, Brazil, South Korea, Central Asia, and the Americas. The Haining Fashion Industry Selection Center has been operational, hosting the "Chaolai·First Pick International Autumn-Winter Fashion Ordering Fair," which curated over 1,000 styles for one-stop selection. More notably, Haining's "1513 Strategy" is taking shape: establishing one China port hub center, five overseas display centers, and overseas warehouses in countries with populations over 100 million. The Chaolai Cross-border Trade Center has been launched, and the "1039" market procurement trade model is being deepened. For enterprises, this means going global is no longer a sporadic effort but a coordinated move supported by infrastructure.
Industrial Chain Synergy: Cluster Effects Driving Regions
The expo also revealed growing linkages between industrial belts. Participating companies came not only from local clusters like Haining and Tongxiang but also from Guangdong and Liaoning. This cross-regional aggregation reflects a shift from fragmentation to synergy in the autumn-winter fashion supply chain. Haining, as a hub, is integrating the strengths of different production areas—Guangdong's down processing, Liaoning's fur resources, and Tongxiang's knitwear base—all connecting and converting into orders through Haining's platform.
Meanwhile, Haining Leather City is accelerating its external expansion. The Xinjiang Haining Leather City project leverages the Urumqi airport hub to build trade channels into Central Asia. The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Haining Leather City lands in Gu'an Yongdingcheng, serving the northern premium fur market. This "westward and northward" layout essentially exports Haining's operational capabilities to key regional nodes, reducing logistics costs and bringing supply closer to consumer markets.