The first review of the 2026 'Keqiao Preferred' program concluded in Shaoxing Keqiao, with 192 local companies submitting 1,038 fabrics across three tracks: fashion, technology, and sustainability. Fashion fabrics accounted for 66.7%, while tech and green fabrics combined for 33.3%. This structural ratio itself signals a shift: Keqiao's textile industry is moving from 'broad and comprehensive' to 'specialized and refined.'
Upgraded Review Mechanism: From Selection to Brand Building
Chaired by Song Fujia, chief engineer of the Textile Product Development Center, the review panel included experts from industry associations and brand procurement. Evaluation criteria expanded from a single fashion dimension to three parallel tracks, incorporating quantitative metrics such as product safety, mass production capability, functional verification, and environmental certifications. This indicates that 'Keqiao Preferred' is not just filtering quality fabrics but constructing a replicable regional brand selection and cultivation system.
Li Bo, director of the Productivity Promotion Department of the China National Textile and Apparel Council, noted that functional fabrics are expanding from sportswear to fashion, a key industry trend. This observation aligns with the high proportion of down jacket outdoor functional fabrics observed at the review. Keqiao companies are attempting to find premium space in competitive categories through multi-component blending, differentiated texture designs, and intangible cultural heritage techniques.
Industrial Cluster Response: Full-Chain Participation, Accelerated R&D Investment
Participating companies span fabric weaving, dyeing, home textiles, and curtain fabrics, showcasing the synergy of Keqiao's full textile chain. The fabrics cover end-use scenarios including womenswear, menswear, childrenswear, underwear, sportswear, casualwear, outdoor, and home, indicating a shift from single-category to multi-scenario coverage.
Review expert Ruan Chunping observed that down jacket outdoor functional fabrics were a hot category but faced intense homogeneity. She recommended multi-component blending to improve quality and broaden applications for differentiation. This points to a deeper issue: Keqiao companies need to shift from 'follow-the-trend R&D' to 'demand-driven R&D,' and the review criteria are guiding this transformation.
Data-Driven Technical Trends: Certification Systems as New Thresholds
At this review, tech fabric companies generally provided complete test reports with transparent functional indicators and measured data. Green fabrics demonstrated high design and craftsmanship in natural fiber applications, with pure wool and cotton fabrics showing notable quality. Some companies have aligned with international certifications such as OEKO-TEX® Standard 100, FSC, and GRS.
This means Keqiao companies are moving from 'parameter marketing' to 'certification endorsement.' For buyers, this reduces inspection and testing costs; for companies, certification systems become hard currency for entering global supply chains. Review expert Chen Baojian noted that eco-friendly fabrics showed overall improvement in design and craftsmanship, with pure wool fabrics being soft and pure cotton fabrics exhibiting natural crepe textures—products with clear premium potential in high-end markets.
Brand Matching and International Exhibitions: A Global Path for Regional Brands
Selected products will receive three targeted brand matchmaking events and will be showcased at international exhibitions including Intertextile Shanghai, Première Vision Paris, Performance Days Munich, and APTEXPO 2026. This 'review + matchmaking + exhibition' loop essentially builds a fast track for Keqiao companies from regional brand to global supply chain.
For foreign trade companies, this means lower barriers to entering international procurement view. However, the prerequisite is proving differentiated competitiveness in fashion, technology, or sustainability tracks during the review.