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From Shanghai, With New Ideas: Cofinay at Intertextile 2026
By Amber, Cofinay
September 2026 · Exhibition Recap
Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics 2026 has come to a close, and our team has returned with more than samples and photographs. We came back with thoughtful questions from visitors, encouraging feedback from the industry and a clearer view of what activewear brands are looking for next.
At Hall 5.1, Booth C118, we welcomed brand teams, designers, sourcing professionals and garment manufacturers from different markets. Some visitors arrived with a specific development brief. Others were simply looking for a better fabric direction. In both cases, the most useful conversations began in the same way: with the garment, the wearer and the intended use.
More Than a Product Display
For us, the show was not about putting as many fabrics as possible on the wall. It was an opportunity to understand how each visitor defines performance.
A fabric for yoga may need softness, coverage and recovery without feeling overly compressive. A golf or tennis style may require a cleaner surface, controlled stretch and a more structured appearance. For cycling and training garments, moisture management, durability and stable fit may carry more weight.
These differences led to practical discussions at the booth. Visitors compared surfaces by hand, stretched samples in different directions and looked closely at weight, drape, opacity and finish. The feedback was often immediate—and that made the exchange especially valuable.
What Visitors Responded To
Across the exhibition, we saw strong interest in fabrics that balance technical performance with a refined hand feel and appearance. Visitors were not only asking whether a material could stretch. They also wanted to know how it would recover, how it would feel after finishing and washing, and whether the surface would support the intended garment design.
Soft, smooth and lightweight qualities attracted attention, but the conversation rarely stopped at first touch. Buyers and developers also asked about practical concerns such as colour, repeatability, pilling, shape retention and suitability for different end uses.
That response reflects something we see in day-to-day development: an impressive swatch may begin a conversation, but a dependable fabric has to continue performing after the first sample.
A Sample Magazine Made for Real Development
One of the most discussed pieces at our booth was the 20-look activewear magazine prepared for the show. Each look combined visual direction with a physical fabric swatch, while an individual QR code gave visitors a direct way to explore related fabric information and options.
The magazine was designed to make fabric selection more intuitive. Instead of separating inspiration from material development, it allowed visitors to see a garment direction, touch the suggested fabric and continue their research from the same page.
Many visitors spent time comparing the looks and discussing how the fabrics could be adapted to their own collections. The response confirmed that useful development materials should do more than look polished—they should make the next decision easier.
The Conversations We Are Taking Home
The value of an exhibition is not measured only by how busy the booth looks. It is also found in the details people choose to discuss.
During the show, we heard questions about developing distinctive textures without compromising wearability, achieving a premium hand feel while maintaining recovery, and selecting more suitable fabrics for specific sports and garment structures. We also spoke with visitors who needed support narrowing a broad idea into a workable fabric direction.
These conversations will continue to shape how we organise our collections, present technical information and support new developments. They also reinforce our belief that a fabric supplier should contribute more than a catalogue. Good development starts with listening, asking the right questions and understanding what the finished garment needs to do.
Thank You for Visiting Cofinay
We would like to thank everyone who visited us at Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics 2026. Whether you came with an active project, shared feedback on our collection or stopped to explore a new fabric direction, we appreciated the time and openness behind every conversation.
We are now following up on the samples, questions and development ideas discussed during the show. If you met our team in Shanghai, we look forward to continuing the conversation. If you were unable to attend, you are still welcome to contact us with your application, target hand feel or garment concept. Our team can help identify a suitable starting point for sampling and further development.
Cofinay is the performance fabric brand of Xiongqi Textile Technology Co., Ltd.
Planning a new activewear collection? Contact Cofinay to discuss your application, fabric requirements and sample needs.
About Cofinay
With over 16 years of expertise, Cofinay is a premier manufacturer of high-end activewear fabrics, certified by global ecological standards. We specialize in engineering premium performance knits for yoga, tennis, equestrian, and golf. Backed by our self-operated vertical weaving and dyeing infrastructure, we provide complete end-to-end services to empower global activewear brands to scale.