Nearly 30,000 visitors on the first day, a 50% increase from the previous edition—this is the opening score of the 2026 Autumn Global Home Textile Eco-Fashion Show and the 18th Keqiao Curtain Fabric Exhibition. In a context where the industry frequently reports declining footfall at retail terminals, this surge is particularly striking. It signals two things: Keqiao's position as a source hub for curtain fabrics remains solid, and buyers' demand for direct sourcing and original design is stronger than ever.
Exhibition Expansion and Industry Signals
The fair opened on August 12, covering the Beilian Market of China Textile City and the Shaoxing International Convention and Exhibition Center, with a total area of 250,000 square meters and over 2,000 source enterprises. The dual-zone operation preserves the daily trading scene of the traditional market while amplifying the clustering effect of new product launches through a centralized fair. Notably, the fourth floor of Beilian Market was included as an exhibition zone for the first time, creating a "market-plus-exhibition" model. This arrangement means the fair is not just a short-term event but is embedded into the year-round business channel, allowing buyers to experience the real trading atmosphere while sampling and negotiating.
From the exhibitor structure, local original brands such as Huaxin Home Textiles, Milan, Yaqinuo, Aimanshi, Fabo, and Orange Impression concentrated their presence, with Fabo participating for the first time. Fabo, with over 20 years in soft furnishing, covers both curtains and wallcoverings, presenting three product lines: the main brand focuses on minimalist style with high-saturation colors, the Blue Stone series targets cost-effective ready-made curtains, and the Paibo series emphasizes simple solid colors with a balance of quality and value. This multi-brand strategy reflects a shift from single fabric supply to integrated soft furnishing solutions. For buyers, it means they can complete the entire selection process from fabric to finished product at one booth, reducing intermediate links.
Originality and Digitalization as Twin Drivers
On the opening day, minimalist light-luxury fabrics, high-shade functional curtains, biodegradable eco-friendly materials, and complete home furnishing sets became the hot categories for dealer inquiries. This selection trend aligns with the current consumer demand for environmental protection, functionality, and one-stop solutions. Orange Impression, a Keqiao-based curtain manufacturer with 17 years of experience, showcased chenille, high-precision, and eco-friendly gauze fabrics, emphasizing formaldehyde-free, wear-resistant, and sun-proof properties, while covering styles from minimalist to neo-Chinese and dopamine. Its representative stated that they launch original designs every season, leveraging the local textile cluster for integrated R&D, production, and brand operations. This original design capability of source factories is the core advantage that distinguishes Keqiao from other wholesale markets.
The introduction of digital tools is also reshaping traditional marketing. The fair hosted four industry empowerment sessions focused on short-video live streaming, spatial aesthetics design, and AI digital tool applications, with top influencers and industry experts as speakers. These sessions directly address the pain points of declining natural footfall in physical stores and insufficient online operation capabilities. For small and medium-sized fabric factories, AI-assisted design and live streaming are no longer optional but necessary means to open new growth. Notably, the fair also launched online cloud exhibitions and live-streamed tours, allowing overseas buyers to browse products and inquire in real time, providing a new path for foreign trade expansion.
Industry Impact and Trend Judgment
The Keqiao autumn fair has long been regarded as a barometer for H2 soft furnishing trends. Judging from the pace of new product launches this year, the weight of eco-friendly and functional curtains has significantly increased, with biodegradable and shading fabrics becoming high-frequency terms. Behind this is the consumer upgrade toward healthy homes and energy efficiency, which also pushes source factories to accelerate green process R&D. Meanwhile, the holding of cross-border e-commerce summits and industrial innovation forums signals that Keqiao's fabric industry is evolving from pure manufacturing to a comprehensive platform of "manufacturing plus services plus trade." For foreign trade companies, this shift means they can directly connect with source factories through the fair, reducing middleman premiums, while using digital tools to quickly respond to overseas orders.
Another noteworthy signal is the presence of senior officials from the China National Textile and Apparel Council and the China Home Textile Association (CHTA), along with several local government leaders, at the opening ceremony. This high-level attention reflects the strategic importance of Keqiao's fabric cluster in the regional economy. In the future, as the "market-plus-exhibition" model becomes normalized, Keqiao is expected to further break down the barriers between short-term exhibitions and year-round operations, driving the industry toward premium and international development. For buyers, this is both an opportunity and a challenge—the opportunity lies in the cost advantage of direct sourcing, while the challenge is how to accurately filter products that meet local consumer preferences from the vast array of new items.