The 18th Keqiao China Light Textile City Curtain Fabric Fair, which opened on August 12, attracted nearly 30,000 visitors on its first day, a 50% increase from the previous edition. In a context of overall industry slowdown, this surge is not accidental—it reflects Keqiao's transformation from a wholesale distribution hub into an original design powerhouse. As source factories begin to emphasize design, trends, and digitalization, the rules of the soft furnishing supply chain are being rewritten.
Event Background
This year's fair adopted a dual-zone 'market + expo' model for the first time, with the fourth floor of Beilian Market and the Shaoxing International Convention and Exhibition Center running simultaneously, covering 250,000 square meters and hosting over 2,000 source enterprises. The integration of a permanent market with a temporary expo creates a compound ecosystem of short-term sales and year-round business—a rare approach among similar markets nationwide.
The nearly 30,000 first-day visitors indicate stronger-than-expected demand for direct sourcing. A distributor from another province noted that previously, multiple wholesale markets were needed to complete product selection, but now, comparing autumn new arrivals from thousands of factories in one place dramatically improves efficiency. This one-stop source experience is the core driver of the visitor surge.
Notably, senior officials from the China National Textile and Apparel Council and the China Home Textile Association toured the fair on opening day, signaling industry-level recognition of Keqiao's model. Local government departments also participated, underscoring the fair's role in regional industrial upgrading.
Industrial Impact
Original design brands dominated this year's exhibition. Orange Impression, a 17-year veteran in soft furnishings, leverages Keqiao's local cluster to build a complete chain from R&D to customization, offering styles ranging from minimalist to new Chinese and dopamine aesthetics, with new products each season. Fable Home, a first-time exhibitor, presented three differentiated product lines—mid-to-high-end minimalist main brand, cost-effective ready-made curtain series, and simple solid-color series—to capture different market segments.
The common logic among these brands is: compete not on price, but on design identity and supply chain responsiveness. For buyers, this means selection criteria are shifting from 'low price, high volume' to 'original design plus quick response.' For factories, pure OEM space is shrinking; they must either develop in-house design capabilities or forge deep ties with original brands to survive.
The exhibition also featured smart cutting, automatic sewing, and digital shaping equipment, signaling another transformation. Intelligent upgrades are no longer exclusive to large enterprises; modular equipment solutions are lowering the barrier for small and medium fabric factories. Combined with online cloud exhibitions and live-streaming tours, Keqiao is breaking geographical boundaries, allowing overseas buyers to inquire in real time—new possibilities for foreign trade.
In terms of autumn new product trends, minimalist luxury fabrics, high-blackout functional curtains, biodegradable eco-friendly materials, and complete home furnishing packages were the most inquired categories. This reflects that downstream consumer demand for environmental protection and functionality has reached the source. Distributors who fail to lock in these products this season risk losing competitiveness in the second-half home improvement peak.