At a regional fabric sourcing event that just concluded in Seoul, 49 Keqiao companies secured nearly 100 intended cooperation deals in just three days, with total visitor numbers exceeding 20,000. While these figures may seem modest within the broader Sino-Korean textile trade, the signals they send are worth the attention of the entire supply chain: Korean buyers are shifting their focus from pure cost-effectiveness to certification credentials and quick-response capabilities.
Event Background
The event was held alongside the PIS International Fabric Exhibition in Seoul, jointly organized by Zhejiang China Textile City Group and the Korea Federation of Textile Industries, running from August 19 to 21. The 49 participating companies brought over 10,000 fabric products spanning knitted, woven, recycled eco-friendly, functional, and original print categories, with a focus on natural cotton, green recycled materials, sport functionality, washing techniques, cotton-nylon blends, and embroidery. This product mix was almost tailor-made for the sourcing needs of Korean women's wear, casual wear, fast fashion, and outdoor apparel.
A notable preparatory move was the delegation's pre-exhibition visits to leading Korean fashion brands such as Hyundai and Donggwang International, where they engaged directly with purchasing and design teams. This upfront reconnaissance allowed exhibitors to fine-tune their product offerings rather than blindly stacking samples. For foreign trade companies accustomed to online sampling, offline exhibitions still play a crucial trust-building role—the hand feel, drape, and finishing techniques of fabrics cannot be fully conveyed through a screen.
Industry Impact
Green and sustainable fabrics emerged as the most prominent highlight of the event. As ESG principles deepen in the Korean market, local brands are showing rising demand for certified materials such as GRS and RCS, and several Keqiao companies presenting recycled series products attracted significant attention. This implies that for Keqiao suppliers to establish a firm foothold in Korea, relying solely on price advantages is no longer sufficient—certification and traceability are becoming new entry barriers.
Feedback from exhibitors underscored the enduring value of face-to-face interaction. A representative from Shaoxing Changran Textile noted that physical display builds customer trust more easily and allows for capturing real purchasing needs that are often overlooked online. Executives from Shaoxing Dongcan Textile and Shaoxing Changdi Import & Export also expressed that the exhibition helped them establish more solid relationships with Korean clients. For SMEs, such exhibitions serve not only as an order-taking channel but also as a cost-effective market research opportunity—collecting trend insights and customer pain points that can directly inform future product development.
Recent high-level reaffirmations of Sino-Korean cooperation, with emphasis on green transition and high-value-added consumer supply chains, align with this industry-level engagement. Keqiao fabrics have built a reputation in Korea's fashion industry, and more Korean brands are proactively connecting with Keqiao source enterprises to open full-channel collaboration from fabric development to sampling and procurement. This industrial interaction is becoming a concrete touchpoint in bilateral economic relations.