Keqiao is redefining the standard for 'good fabrics' through an annual review of over a thousand new fabrics. On April 24, the first review session of the 2026 'Keqiao Preferred' program concluded in Shaoxing Keqiao, with 192 local enterprises submitting 1,038 fabrics. Two-thirds of the entries were fashion-oriented, while technology and sustainability categories accounted for the remaining third. This ratio signals a shift from mere capacity output to value-driven competition centered on design, functionality, and sustainability.
Signals from Review Data
Participating companies spanned the entire textile chain—weaving, dyeing, home textiles, and wall coverings—while the fabrics covered eight end-use scenarios: women's wear, men's wear, children's wear, lingerie, sportswear, casualwear, outdoor, and home. Li Bo, director of the Productivity Promotion Department at the China National Textile and Apparel Council, noted that functional fabrics are expanding from sportswear into fashion—indicating that Keqiao is not only filling gaps but actively extending product boundaries.
Review criteria included product safety, mass-production feasibility, functional verification, and eco-certification as hard metrics. Several companies submitted third-party test reports, a practice rare in last year's review. Expert Chen Baojian observed that eco-friendly fabrics showed higher design and craftsmanship levels in natural fibers, with pure wool and cotton fabrics achieving textures comparable to international high-end products.
Differentiation: From Blends to Intangible Heritage
In the highly competitive outdoor down-jacket category, expert Ruan Chunping highlighted multi-component blends as key to improving fabric quality and expanding applications. Blends of cotton and mulberry silk, praised by brand representative Ye Fei as 'what the market needs,' offer both performance and cost control. In fashion, the 'Guochao' trend remains dominant, but expert Sun Ke noted that plain-knit fabrics with multiple functions are also gaining attention, indicating a shift from pattern innovation to integrated design and functionality. Some companies have even incorporated intangible cultural heritage techniques into fabric designs and filed for patents.
For technology and sustainability tracks, the emphasis was on 'evidence chains.' Tech fabrics came with patent certifications, while green fabrics met international standards like OEKO-TEX Standard 100, FSC, and GRS. The widespread use of dope-dyed yarn, praised by expert Yu Kefeng, exemplifies innovation that balances environmental protection with fashion.
Triple Shift for the Regional Brand
'Keqiao Preferred,' the district's key textile regional public brand, has evolved from a quality benchmark to a full ecosystem encompassing review, precision matching, and domestic/international exhibition promotion. The 2026 plan includes three brand-matching events and exhibitions at Intertextile Shanghai, Première Vision Paris, Performance Days Munich, and APTEXPO 2026. This represents a triple shift: from a regional production hub to a national brand output; from a simple trading platform to a supply-chain service platform; and from the slogan 'Good Fabrics, Made in Keqiao' to a commitment as a high-end supply base.