Nearly 30,000 visitors on the first day, a 50% surge year-on-year—this is the initial result of the 18th Keqiao China Textile City Curtain Fabric Exhibition, which opened on August 12. Against a backdrop of slowing industry growth, this increase far exceeds expectations, reflecting the strong appeal of the source-factory procurement model. With 250,000 square meters of exhibition space and over 2,000 source enterprises, the autumn fair has become a barometer for the soft furnishing market in the second half of the year.
Event Background
For the first time, the fair extended its exhibition area to the fourth floor of Beilian Market, introducing an innovative "market-plus-exhibition" dual-presentation model. This allows buyers to not only visit the exhibition but also step directly into year-round operating source stores, seamlessly connecting short-term exhibitions with permanent business operations. The presence of Liang Pengcheng, Vice President of the China National Textile and Apparel Council, and Zhu Xiaohong, President of the China Home Textile Association (CHTA), during the tour underscores the industry's recognition of this model.
The composition of exhibitors is also noteworthy. Orange Impression, a company deeply rooted in soft furnishing for 17 years, leverages the local Keqiao textile cluster to form an integrated industrial chain covering R&D, production, brand operations, and custom services. Its products include chenille, high-precision, and eco-friendly window sheers, emphasizing formaldehyde-free, abrasion-resistant, and UV-resistant qualities. The brand's design styles follow trends such as minimalism, neo-Chinese, and dopamine aesthetics, with seasonal original collections. Another first-time exhibitor, Fabo Home, covers both curtains and wallcoverings, positioning itself as a full-category original design brand. It operates three product lines: a mid-to-high-end main brand, a cost-effective ready-made curtain line called "Blue Stone," and a simple solid-color series called "Paibo," demonstrating a clear differentiation strategy.
Industry Impact
The exhibition data reveals that Keqiao's supply chain advantages as a domestic fabric source are being revalued. For buyers, dealing directly with factories means shorter communication chains, greater customization flexibility, and more controllable costs. Chai Xin, design director of Fabo Home, mentioned that the brand previously participated in designer-oriented fairs such as Shanghai and Guangzhou design weeks; this time, the goal of attending Keqiao was to "connect with high-quality effective customers"—a sign that the audience precision of source fairs is improving.
In terms of product trends, minimalist luxury fabrics, high-blackout functional curtains, degradable low-carbon eco-friendly materials, and whole-house soft furnishing sets have become hot topics. This sends a clear signal: downstream consumer demands for environmental protection and functionality are transmitting upstream to production. Dealers locking in autumn new styles on the first day indicates that competition in the second half will center on "differentiated originality" and "green sustainability."
Meanwhile, four industry empowerment activities held during the fair focused on short-video live streaming customer acquisition, spatial aesthetics, and AI digital tool applications, directly addressing pain points such as declining foot traffic in physical stores and insufficient online operations. Nearly 20 supporting events, including cross-border e-commerce summits and industrial innovation forums, reflect the urgency of transitioning the traditional fabric industry toward digitalization and internationalization. The display of intelligent cutting equipment and automatic sewing machines also provides small and medium factories with upgrade path references.