1,038 fabrics competed on the same stage, 192 local Keqiao companies participated, with fashion fabrics accounting for 66.7% and tech and green fabrics combined for 33.3%—these are the figures from the first review session of the 2026 'Keqiao Preferred' program, held on April 24 in Shaoxing Keqiao. Behind these numbers lies a clear signal of Keqiao's textile industry belt shifting from 'scale expansion' to 'value competition.'
Review Data Reflects Industry Upgrade Direction
The review covered eight end-use scenarios: womenswear, menswear, childrenswear, underwear, sportswear, casualwear, outdoor, and home textiles. Fabric categories expanded from traditional woven and knitted to functional down jacket fabrics, guochao design fabrics, and dope-dyed eco-friendly fabrics. The judging panel was led by Li Bo, director of the Productivity Promotion Department of the China National Textile and Apparel Council, and included brand-side development heads and technical experts, scoring across five dimensions: fashion creativity, technological innovation, eco-friendliness, product quality, and market application.
Notably, tech and green fabrics together accounted for over one-third of submissions, a significant increase from last year. Judge Chen Baojian noted that many functional fabric companies provided complete testing reports, directly displaying performance indicators and measured data, making evaluations more objective. Eco-friendly fabrics showed high design and craftsmanship in natural fiber applications, with pure wool fabrics being soft and pure cotton fabrics having natural crepe textures, overall quality standing out.
Another key change is the significant improvement in fabric compliance. Participating companies generally aligned with international textile safety and environmental standards such as OEKO-TEX® Standard 100, FSC, and GRS—a rare occurrence in previous Keqiao fabric reviews. Judge Qiu Qin remarked that some fabrics performed impressively in material innovation and process upgrades, distinctly different from previous perceptions of Keqiao fabrics, better aligning with brand R&D directions, and showing strong attention to compliance.
Three-Track Competition: Fashion Leads, Tech and Green Catch Up
In terms of category distribution, fashion fabrics dominated with 66.7%, consistent with Keqiao's historical identity as 'China Textile City.' However, this year's fashion fabrics were no longer simple pattern copies but incorporated original color patterns and differentiated texture designs, with some companies even integrating intangible cultural heritage techniques and patented appearance designs. Judge Sun Ke mentioned that guochao is undoubtedly a major popular category in current women's fashion, alongside floral, bird, insect, and landscape elements; plain knitted fabrics with multiple functions also attracted attention.
The tech fabric track showed a trend of 'function and fashion integration.' Judge Lan Fotao stated that many fabrics in this review combined function with fashion and offered high cost-performance, perfectly matching brand procurement needs. For example, multiple functional outdoor fabrics for down jackets became a hot category. Judge Ruan Chunping pointed out that to stand out amid many competitors, differentiation and high-end positioning are key—multi-component blending to improve fabric quality and broaden application scenarios is an effective way to enhance terminal market value.
The green fabric track, though smallest in share, shows the highest growth potential. The widespread application of dope-dyeing technology became a highlight. Judge Yu Kefeng noted that dope-dyeing balances eco-friendliness and fashion, and this year's companies provided more complete information declarations, with clearer differentiation in fabric composition and functional focus compared to last year.
Regional Brand Building: From 'Going Viral' to 'Going Global'
As a key regional public brand for textiles in Keqiao District, 'Keqiao Preferred' aims to upgrade from 'good fabrics, made in Keqiao' to 'good fabrics, preferred from Keqiao.' The review results were announced on the official website on April 25. Selected products will be eligible for hangtag applications and will be featured in the online showroom. More importantly, these products will be promoted at major domestic and international exhibitions, including the China International Textile Fabrics & Accessories (Autumn/Winter) Expo, Première Vision Paris, Performance Days Munich, and the Asia Pacific Textile and Apparel Supply Chain Expo & Summit.
The underlying logic of this layout is clear: Keqiao fabrics are no longer content to be the 'king of cost-performance' in domestic wholesale markets; they aim to enter international brand supply chains. Judge Li Bo emphasized in his summary that functional fabrics are expanding from sportswear to fashion, a key industry trend. The program will continue to align with brand demands, guide companies to focus on innovation tracks, and promote the transformation of traditional fabric production areas into high-end supply bases recognized by brands.