Putting the spotlight on UK mills and design studios at Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics 

The UK Fashion & Textile Association (UKFT) will be highlighting the quality, creativity and craftsmanship at the heart of the British textile industry at the September edition of Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics to further build on the growing demand for UK textiles in China and beyond.

The UK is known for supplying some of the finest worsted wool fabrics to the most prestigious luxury brands, designers and tailors around the world and is witnessing a growing appetite from China’s luxury market for British-made cloth. Meanwhile, creative design studios offering a wealth of unique prints are also gaining an increasing foothold in the industry, thanks to their directional, contemporary approach to prints.

UKFT will host a showcase stand in the SalonEurope to allow visitors to view the latest offerings from mills including Abraham Moon, Holland & Sherry, Linton Tweeds, Marling & Evans and Taylor & Lodge. World renowned textile merchants Holland & Sherry, Scabal, Dugdale Bros and Huddersfield Fine Worsteds, as well as the relatively newer Huddersfield Cloth, will be present at the show, offering distinctive collections of luxury wool-based cloths produced in the UK, alongside the iconic patterned, print and floral fabric specialist Liberty Fabrics.

Visitors can view a selection of the latest fabrics developed specifically for the Chinese and Far Eastern markets, find out more about upcoming trends and discover more about the UK’s unparalleled expertise in textile manufacturing. Some of the UK’s most exciting print designers, from Fairbairn & Wolf, Owens and Kim and Amanda Kelly through to newer talents including Found Design Studio and Her Studio are also exhibiting at the show.

Many of the UK’s historic mills are based in and around Yorkshire, where the area’s soft flowing water is used to produce unparalleled quality fabrics. These include Abraham Moon, which was founded in 1837 and prides itself on a reputation for consistent quality and innovative design, and Marling & Evans, which was founded in 1782 as a small, craft weavers specialising in British undyed wools that make the most of the natural hues.

The area is also the manufacturing home of fine English cloth specialist Scabal, which has been weaving luxury cloth at its heritage mill in Huddersfield for more than 75 years. Today, its cloth can be found in tailors’ workshops in over 65 countries worldwide.

Taylor & Lodge has occupied its factory in Huddersfield on the edge of the Yorkshire Moors since the company was founded in 1883 and is known around the world for producing some of the finest, luxury British worsted cloths. The firm has a significant international business and became part of the Chinese textile group Shandong Ruyi in 2014.

Further north in England, Linton Tweeds has been producing quality fabrics for couture fashion houses around the world for more than 100 years. All their fabrics are designed and woven at the company’s mill in Carlisle, just as when the company was first founded by William Linton in 1912.

With a mill in Peebles on the Scottish borders and head office on London’s Savile Row, Holland & Sherry has been supplying prestigious tailors and luxury brands around the world since 1836. Steeped in tradition, Savile Row is synonymous with quality, luxury and bespoke craftsmanship: characteristics that particularly resonate with the Chinese consumer. Bespoke tailors on the famous Mayfair street have clothed icons from Winston Churchill through to Fred Astaire to Elton John.

Lindsay Taylor, group sales director at Holland & Sherry says “Chinese consumers have great respect for British products, appreciating the craftsmanship, quality and history. However, that is not to say they see it as simply traditional: it is traditional but with a twist.

“They are far more adventurous and daring in terms of colour and design than their British or European counterparts and in our part of the market, they really like to invest in quality.”

Richard Ryley, general manager at Huddersfield Cloth, agrees: “Chinese consumers particularly appreciate the authenticity and provenance of British fabrics, as Huddersfield is where luxury textile manufacturing started.”

The company is launching a new range of suiting fabrics in Shanghai, which have been developed in collaboration with its Chinese agent. “The fabrics are much more adventurous and colourful than we’ve seen in the past,” he says.

HER Studio, a new print studio based in East London, is set to make its return to Intertextile after a successful debut in March. Co-founder Helen Stark says she couldn’t believe the interest in the firm’s interpretations of the latest trends in print and colour and will be unveiling a collection designed specifically for the Chinese customer, which includes new quirky, whimsical designs.

International interest in UK textiles is increasing significantly and the industry is stepping up production to meet the growing demand. The latest statistics show that production in 2019 increased by 20% over the last three years.

It is an industry built on tradition, supplying some of the world’s most exquisite fabrics to luxury fashion houses, royal families and prestigious designers in far flung areas of the globe. But today’s industry fuses high-tech with artisanal skills, often using original techniques and machinery alongside state-of-the-art technology to create fabrics that are designed to last a lifetime.

Paul Alger MBE, international business director at UKFT, says: “We are delighted to showcase the best of what the UK textile mills and designers have to offer the international visitors to Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics and demonstrate the sheer diversity of the sector. We look forward to welcoming visitors to the show.”

UK fabric exhibitors at Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics

• Abraham Moon
• Brown Allan
• BTTG
• Dugdale Bros & Co
• Holland & Sherry
• Huddersfield Cloth
• Huddersfield Fine Worsteds
• Intertek Group
• Liberty Fabric
• Linton Tweeds
• Marling & Evans
• PIL Membranes
• Scabal
• Taylor & Lodge
• WGSN

UK Design Studios at Intertextile

• Amanda Kelly
• Camilla Frances Prints
• Canvas Print Studio
• Fairbairn & Wolf Studio
• Found Design Studio
• HER Studio
• Owens and Kim

The British group at Intertextile Shanghai is co-ordinated by UKFT (UK Fashion & Textile Association) and supported by DIT (Department for International Trade) with the generous support of The Clothworkers’ Company.  For further information, please contact textiles@ukft.org or visit the UKFT information stand at the show.

The British Colour and Textile Trends for Autumn/Winter 2020/21 are available to view here.