First-day visitor numbers surged 50% year-on-year, the exhibition area reached 250,000 square meters, and over 2,000 source enterprises participated—the 18th Keqiao Curtain and Fabric Exhibition, which opened on August 12, used these figures to signal a deep shift in the soft furnishing supply chain. With the fair extending into the fourth floor of the Beilian Market, creating a dual 'market-plus-expo' scenario, Keqiao is no longer just a fabric distribution hub but is emerging as an integrator of original design and source supply chains.
Event Background
For the first time, the exhibition set up a zone on the fourth floor of Beilian Market, operating in sync with the Shaoxing International Convention Center, covering curtains, wall coverings, ready-made drapes, and more. First-day attendance reached nearly 30,000, a 50% increase over the previous edition—a notable jump in an industry where exhibition traffic has generally been under pressure. Exhibitors included local brands such as Huaxin Home Textiles and Milan, as well as first-time participants like Fabo Home, a full-category original design brand previously seen at Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Frankfurt trade fairs. Their move to Keqiao aims to connect with effective customers at the source market.
During the fair, four industry empowerment sessions focused on short-video live streaming, spatial aesthetics, and AI digital tools, alongside nearly 20 supporting events. These efforts target a core need: helping merchants solve shrinking foot traffic and weak online operations, pushing traditional marketing toward digital transformation.
Industry Impact
The Keqiao autumn fair has long been a barometer for second-half soft furnishing trends. This year, minimalist luxury fabrics, high-shade functional curtains, biodegradable eco-friendly materials, and complete home soft furnishing sets drew the most dealer interest. Notably, brands like Fabo introduced high-saturation colors, original vintage patterns, and natural cotton-linen textures, breaking the previous dominance of light luxury and cream styles. Original design distinctiveness is now a key competitive dimension.
For buyers, the 'market-plus-expo' model means direct access to factory sources, enabling discussions on customization, lead times, and fabric processes, eliminating middlemen. For factories, smart cutting, automatic sewing, and digital fabric setting equipment on display offer complete solutions for small and medium-sized factories to upgrade. The simultaneous launch of online cloud exhibitions and live-streaming tours allows overseas buyers to source remotely, further opening cross-border trade channels.
These changes reflect Keqiao's fabric cluster transformation from volume-driven to innovation-driven. As original design, green materials, and digital technology become exhibition keywords, Keqiao's influence extends beyond pricing to trend definition and supply chain collaboration. Traditional wholesale merchants must accelerate digital capabilities, while foreign trade companies need to engage earlier in source design to differentiate products in international markets.