A single evaluation event, 1,072 fabric samples, 195 Keqiao companies—these numbers signal that the 'Keqiao Premium' regional public brand is moving beyond concept promotion into a phase where product strength and supply chain depth are tightly integrated.
On July 24, the second session of the 2026 'Keqiao Premium' evaluation was held in Keqiao, Shaoxing. Submitted products were divided into three tracks: fashion, tech, and eco. Fashion fabrics accounted for 75% of entries, while tech and eco combined for 25%. This ratio itself is noteworthy: although tech and eco fabrics have a smaller share, their growth rate and quality improvement are evident, narrowing the gap with fashion fabrics.
Evaluation Criteria Upgrade: Quantitative Thresholds Push Companies to Fill Gaps
The review system this year added weight to quantifiable metrics such as product safety, mass production capability, functional verification, and eco-certification, on top of traditional dimensions like creativity, innovation, eco-friendliness, quality, and market applicability. This means fabrics that are well-designed but lack test reports or production guarantees will find it harder to be selected.
Multiple judges pointed out the same issue during the review: some submitted fabrics had incomplete supporting test documentation. Chen Ling, Deputy Director of China Textile City Creative Industry Service Center, noted that while the fabrics looked impressive and used quality raw materials, the lack of testing information affected overall scores. Chen Baojian, Deputy Director of the Textile Product Development Center, also advised companies to improve their functional parameter testing data to allow more intuitive assessment of material, performance, and craftsmanship.
For Keqiao companies, this is not just a change in evaluation requirements but a reflection of the procurement logic of end brands. Brands increasingly need verifiable performance data to support product selection decisions, rather than relying solely on hand feel and appearance.
Highlights of the Three Tracks: Tech Fabrics Accelerate Breakout, Eco Fibers Expand Boundaries
From a category distribution perspective, fashion fabrics remain Keqiao's 'bread and butter.' Categories such as jacquard, satin, lace, and clip-spot were all present, with multi-material blends and refined craftsmanship enabling multi-scene style adaptability. Several judges noted that this year's fashion fabrics were 'ahead of the curve' in applying color trends, and the integration of new Chinese design elements has elevated the overall fashion level.
The tech fabric track showed the most significant improvement. Differentiated functional fibers such as ultra-fine denier, graphene-modified, hollow, and cooling fibers were widely used, covering functions like moisture absorption, warmth retention, UV protection, and see-through prevention. Duan Furong, head of the research institute at Baoxiniao Holdings, stated that some tech fabrics exhibited excellent basic performance and have the potential to become market hits. He also suggested making sustainability a mandatory requirement to promote deeper integration of the three tracks.
In the eco fabric track, recycled polyester-nylon, Lyocell, cupro, hemp, Naia™, and Yaser® were widely used, paired with salt-free, low-water dyeing processes. Zhang Qifeng, Material Development Director at Aileiyin Fashion Co., Ltd., specifically noted that kapok fiber products showed excellent hand feel compared to traditional natural fiber eco fabrics like cotton, linen, silk, and wool, offering high market application value.
From Evaluation to Implementation: Brand Matching and Trade Shows Form a Closed Loop
The value of 'Keqiao Premium' goes beyond the selection itself. Selected products will be displayed year-round on the official website's online showroom, and selected companies will participate in three targeted brand-matching events. Additionally, they will receive centralized promotion at top domestic and international trade shows, including the China International Trade Fair for Textiles and Apparel (Autumn/Winter), Performance Days in Munich, and APTEXPO 2026.
This means that companies selected for 'Keqiao Premium' will gain direct access to multi-level market channels, from product display to brand matching, and from domestic to international markets. Li Bo, Director of the Productivity Promotion Department of the China National Textile and Apparel Council, noted in his summary that functional fabrics are accelerating their expansion from professional sportswear into everyday fashion and business attire—an important industry trend. He suggested that 'Keqiao Premium' further align with core brand demands and guide companies to focus on advantageous innovation tracks.