Three days, nearly 100 intended cooperations, and over 20,000 visitors—this is the scorecard Keqiao textile companies delivered in Seoul from August 19 to 21. But what deserves more attention is why, in an era of widespread online connectivity, these 49 companies still chose to travel across the sea to touch fabrics? The answer may lie in South Korean buyers' insistence on physical hand-feel.
Event Background
Dubbed the 4th China Textile City Seoul Textile & Accessory Exhibition, the event rode on the platform of the Seoul PIS International Fabric Show, co-hosted by Zhejiang China Textile City Group Co., Ltd. and the Korea Federation of Textile Industries. The 49 Keqiao enterprises brought over 10,000 fabric varieties—covering knitted, woven, recycled eco-friendly, functional, original printed, and more—across categories like natural cotton, green recycled, sports functional, washed, cotton-nylon blends, and embroidery, targeting the procurement needs of Korean women's wear, casual wear, fast fashion, and outdoor apparel.
Buying teams from Lotte Fashion, JAJU, GSGM, PLAYBACK, and other well-known Korean brands visited the booths for sampling, cutting, and business talks. But what truly made the show valuable was the pre-show market research conducted by the Keqiao delegation. They visited Hyundai, Donggwang International, and other leading Korean fashion brands, engaging with purchasing and design teams to study popular colors, pattern trends, sustainable sourcing standards, and small-quantity, fast-reorder market demands.
This upfront research sharpened the product positioning of exhibitors. Shaoxing Fanda Textile Co., Ltd. brought a range of T/R yarn-dyed fabrics with diverse styles and compositions, while Shaoxing Yeshuai Textile Co., Ltd. introduced washed and cotton-nylon fabric novelties that fit Korean aesthetics. Companies reported receiving multiple sample and quotation requests, laying a foundation for entering the Korean market.
Industry Impact
Green sustainable fabrics emerged as a major highlight. Amid deepening ESG awareness in the Korean market, demand for certified fabrics such as GRS and RCS has been rising. Several Keqiao companies brought recycled series with relevant certifications, drawing significant buyer attention. This signals that green certification has shifted from a bonus to a prerequisite for entering the Korean market, requiring sustained investment in sustainable supply chains for those aiming to deepen their presence in East Asia.
The irreplaceable value of physical exhibitions was repeatedly confirmed in discussions. Zhu Fei, head of Shaoxing Changran Textile Co., Ltd., noted that physical display builds trust more easily and captures genuine procurement needs often missed online. Jin Jinghua of Shaoxing Dongcan Textile Co., Ltd. and Weng Jiani of Shaoxing Changdi Import & Export Co., Ltd. both mentioned that face-to-face exchanges helped them grasp the latest trends and establish more solid relationships.
Lee Sang-bong, president of the Korea Fashion Designers Association, remarked that new fabrics greatly assist product development and understanding of current Chinese fabric trends. This indicates that Keqiao fabrics have built a reputation in the Korean fashion industry, with more Korean brands proactively engaging Keqiao source companies to open full-chain cooperation from development to sampling to procurement.