Open Collaboration, Technology Driven, Fashion Transformation
A review of the 2nd World Textile Merchandising Conference
Oct 16, 2019 ｜ by CT
With the aim of “Win-Win Cooperation and Responsible Development”, and themed on “Open Collaboration, Technology Driven, Fashion Transformation”, the three-day 2nd World Textile Merchandising Conference ended successfully on September 29th. The conference linked the global industrial think tanks to explore the industry’s common prosperity and sustainable development.
A series of activities highlighted the conference,including the 2nd World Textile Merchandising Conference Theme Conference, Global Fashion Industry Development Forum, Global Textile Digital Printing Summit, China Textile Fabrics Copyright Forum, The 15th Asian Textile Conference, International Cooperation Forum for Global Textile Industry, Belt and Road Forum for Textile Cooperation, International Collaborative Innovation Management Forum for Textile and Garment Industry, Awarding Ceremony of “China Textile City Cup” 2019 Global Fashion Design Elite Challenge and EcoCosy® BV China Fashion Fabrics Design Competition, On-site Exchange Meeting of Labor Competition of Private Enterprises in the Yangtze River Delta & Vocational Skills Competition for Workers in the Textile Industry, as well as a Visit to Beautiful Village in Keqiao District Shaoxing.
2019 marks the sixth anniversary of the “Belt and Road Initiative”. The joint construction of the “Belt and Road” has portrayed the era of China's cooperation with the world for a win-win situation. The Conference this year aims to implement the spirit of the important speech delivered by General Secretary Xi Jinping in the second “Belt and Road” International Cooperation Summit, and showcase Shaoxing Keqiao’s responsibility of the world’s textile industry cluster. It is committed to building a platform for global textile communication to achieve the optimal allocation of factors for the development of the global textile economy, open up more space for the growth of the world textile economy, and find the optimal development path.
Representatives from 45 countries and regions jointly released the “World Textile Merchandising Declaration”
In order to promote the global textile industry to implement pragmatic cooperation and fall into the details, at the theme conference, under the common witness of global industry representatives, industry representatives from 45 countries and regions including Poland, Australia, Turkey, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, India, Iran, and Israel jointly released the “World Textile Merchandising Declaration”, which solemnly clarified the future development goals and grand vision of the global textile industry. “Towards the future, we will adhere to open collaboration, continuously promote the interconnection of industry and market, and jointly improve the development of the industrial chain. Facing the future, we will adhere to science and technology drive, continuously strengthen basic research, applied research and technology transformation, and jointly improve the industrial infrastructure capabilities. Facing the future, we will give full play to the role of textile and garment as a cultural carrier and a bridge of civilization, and jointly enhance the value of industrial culture.” The release of the Declaration laid the foundation for the more collaboration of the world textile industry in terms of innovation, wisdom, and resources, while clarifying the direction and pointing out the path.
Exploring new trends in the development of the industry
The 2nd World Textile Merchandising Conference focused on the international textile industry exchange and the global textile industry’s coordinated development and strategic opportunities, the global technology-driven innovation cooperation around academics and technology, and the creative design market value and aesthetic value in the context of industrial fashion transformation, the high-quality development trend of China’s textile industry in promoting global industrial collaboration in the new era, Keqiao’s textile discourse rights in the world, and the new image of the international textile capital in the new era.
Sun Ruizhe, President of CNTAC
Dr. Christian P. Schindler, Secretary General of ITMF
The theme conference looked into the global textile industry from the perspective of the world economic structure, exploring the road to win-win cooperation for the Chinese textile industry in the new era, interpreting the fashion development advancing with the times and the secrets of the world’s top luxury brands, and comprehensively introducing the development and future planning of Keqiao economy in Shaoxing. Global Fashion Industry Development Forum explored the new trends in China’s textile fashion industry, focusing on green production and green industry chain technology innovation as well as market changes and consumption changes in the digital age. The 15th Asian Textile Conference and the 9th China Textile Academic Conference brought together the latest scientific research results from the global textile elites to discuss the future development of textile technology. Belt and Road Forum for Textile Cooperation jointly explored the new direction of international textile industry cooperation and the new trend of global textile economy development under the background of Belt and Road Initiative.
International Cooperation Forum for Global Textile Industry attracted leaders from textile fashion associations in 26 countries on five continents and foreign representatives from 12 countries, focusing on such hot topics as “the impact of today’s unilateralism on global integration” and “sustainable trends of textile industry”. Global Textile Digital Printing Summit discussed the development status and trends of domestic and international textile digital inkjet printing, digital printing technology and key technology product development and market development. International Collaborative Innovation Management Forum for Textile and Garment Industry shared and exchanged views on the all-round coordination of the supply chain of the textile and garment industry, the collaboration between technology and aesthetics, and the collaboration between new retail and consumer value. China Textile Fabrics Copyright Forum talked about the new dynamics and trends of global pattern copyright protection, discussed the ways to protect copyright through the “dialogue” between experts and entrepreneurs. During the On-site Exchange Meeting of Labor Competition of Private Enterprises in the Yangtze River Delta & Vocational Skills Competition for Workers in the Textile Industry, 107 teams from 9 teams in Shanghai, Jiangsu, Anhui and Zhejiang participated in such competitions related to fabric design (computer graphic design), clothing production, as well as dyeing and printing proofing.
Working together to achieve new results in industrial collaboration
The 2nd World Textile Merchandising Conference has established a more orderly innovation coordination and a more open pattern for the world textile industry, established a foundation for further cooperation of the global textile industry chain, and brought more cooperation and development opportunities for keqiao and even China's textile industry.
In 2019 Global Textile Digital Printing Summit, China Dyeing & Printing Industry Association released the "Report on digital ink-jet textile printing development in China", which made a detailed analysis of the development status and trend of digital ink-jet textile printing in China.At the meeting, the summit organizing committee awarded China Textile City Construction Management Committee "outstanding contribution award of 2019 Global Textile Digital Printing Summit”. The 15th Asian Textile Conference and the 9th China Textile Academic Conference awarded the 2019 academy award winners. During the Belt and Road Forum for Textile Cooperation, the launching ceremony of the “Belt and Road” International Textile Technology Alliance was also held. 20 organizations from 18 countries and regions signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the “Belt and Road” International Textile Technology Alliance with China Textile Engineering Society to jointly build the alliance.
In addition, On-site Exchange Meeting of Labor Competition of Private Enterprises in the Yangtze River Delta & Vocational Skills Competition for Workers in the Textile Industry witnessed a signing ceremony of Yangtze River Delta College of China University of Labor Relations. “China Textile City Cup” 2019 Global Fashion Design Elite Challenge and EcoCosy® BV China Fashion Fabrics Design Competition presented various awards.
Co-construction of a pioneering zone for world-class textile industry clusters
At the theme conference, the ceremony of “building a pioneering zone for world-class textile industry clusters” was held. China National Textile and Apparel Council and the global representatives from textile industry clusters gathered in Shaoxing Keqiao to further promote the transformation and high-quality development of the textile industry clusters.
At present, the shifting of world’s new and old growth driving forces is accelerating, and the resources and advantages between different countries, regions and industries are undergoing significant changes. The world textile industry is at an important juncture in transition and development. How to grasp the period of strategic opportunities and realize greater value of the industry is a common issue for those engaged in textile industry worldwide. As Sun Ruizhe, President of China National Textile and Apparel Council, said that global industrial collaboration is imperative. The textile industry is one of the most promising industries in China to enter the ranks of the world's manufacturing powers. It plays an increasingly important role in serving the overall national strategy, building cultural self-confidence and advancing the community of human destiny. Faced with a change in the past 100 years, China’s textile and garment industry should promote collaboration with openness, improve quality with innovation, seek transformation with fashion, and increase potential with sustainability.
In the new stage of the textile industry entering globalization, innovation and responsible development, Keqiao’s participation in the construction of “Belt and Road” has the inherent advantages. The latest data shows that from January to August this year, Keqiao District saw an export volume of 56.7 billion yuan, an increase of 18% year-on-year, 12 percentage points higher than the national average. Most of the export products came from the textile industry. As China’s 100 billion-level textile industry cluster, Keqiao not only built a trading platform for nearly a quarter of the world’s textile products, but also built a communication platform for the global textile economy.
