TITAS 2005 Highlights Growing Influence of Asian Textiles

The lifting of global textile quotas at the start of this year has opened the floodgates to cheap textile products from mainland China, creating a sea change in the industry's competitive landscape. The change has been nowhere more apparent than at the ninth Taipei Innovative Textile Application Show (TITAS 2005), held on Sept. 29 through Oct. 1 at the Taipei World Trade Center.

More than anything, TITAS 2005 underscored the growing influence of Asia in the textile business. Asian producers made a strong presence at the three-day show, which highlighted middle stream and upstream yarn and fabric products, particularly high-added-value functional textiles. The show also offered an excellent forum for local producers to develop business ties with international manufacturers and branded lines.

Huang Chih-peng, director general of the Bureau of Foreign Trade under the Ministry of Economic Affairs, says that over the past few years, Taiwan has been feeling the increasing presence of mainland China's textile industry which is growing rapidly, and promises to loom larger as the textile industry has eliminated quotas this year. He says this will pose a very stiff challenge to Taiwan's textile industry.

Competing With Innovation

In meeting this growing challenge from mainland producers, textile makers in Taiwan have had to play their strong cards in innovation and technology. Appropriately, therefore, this year's TITAS was renamed from the former "Taipei International Textile & Apparel Show" to the new name as "Taipei Innovative Textile Application Show." True to this theme, the exhibition devoted special sections to high-value-added textiles, innovative fibers and yarn, and new functional fabrics.

A total of 281 exhibitors attended TITAS this year, according to figures compiled by show organizer the Taiwan Textile Federation (TTF). The TTF invited many leading textile manufacturers from at home and abroad to exhibit fibers, yarns and fabrics, and to introduce new products incorporating nanotechnology, bamboo charcoal, and waterproofing and ventilation functionality, as well as other new materials with specific functions.

At the show's new "F4" display, exhibitors highlighted fiber, fabric, fashion, and function in the textile industry. The display focused on the need to integrate all aspects of the textile industry from upstream apparel companies to downstream fabric producers as well as spinning and weaving companies.

A "3D" fabric fashion show, arranged by Eclat Textile Co., sported the latest in modern knitted fabrics. Everest Textile Co.'s "Ultimate Innovator" showcased functional high-tech textiles. And Tai Yuen Textiles Co. touted its latest products at the "Fashion Party" show.

The exhibition also featured seminars on the newest trends, innovations and concepts in the textile industry. Lecture topics covered such areas as R&D, environmental protection, design, marketing, brand marketing, social relations, and more. Among the keynote speakers were Allen A. Terhaar, executive director of Cotton Council International, H.J. Hubner, CEO of the well-known textiles manufacturer Schoeller Textile AG, Brad Beal, vice president of Jockey International, Reiner Hengstmann of Global Head Environmental & Social Affairs of Puma AG in Germany.

According to statistics compiled by TTF, the three-day show attracted 16,703 buyers, including 14,748 (88.3% of the total) from Taiwan and 1,955 (11.7%) from abroad. In terms of the number of buyers by nations and regions, mainland China took the first place, followed by Hong Kong, the United States, Japan, Thailand, India, Malaysia, Canada, France, and South Korea.

Asia accounted for 66.44% of the total buyers visiting TITAS 2005, followed by North America (18.71%), Europe (8.2%), Latin America (3.84%), the Middle East and Africa (1.79%), and Australia (1.02%).

Diversity on Display

In order to promote greater diversification at this year's TITAS exhibition, a number of new product categories were created, catering to the specific needs of foreign buyers. One example was a display by Taiwan Paiho Corporation, which produces a number of adhesives used in shoe buckles and fastener, webbing and eyelets, shoelaces as well as other important accessories used in athletic shoes. The company promoted several new products, such as elastic webbing, shoelaces, and reflective tape, as well as new bamboo products, at the show.

Taiwan's YKK Corporation highlighted its zippers, plastic fasteners, webbing, sticky adhesives at TITAS this year. The company also showed off its new T&P products, such as buckles and fasteners, metal buckles and other nylon webbed products.

With regard to embroidery products, some of the most fantastic and eye-catching products came from Tong Ye International Co. which offers decorative border and trimming as well as fabric accessories that attracted the attention of many foreign buyers.

Another company exhibiting at the show was Royale Maye Chie Corporation, a specialist in computer assisted embroidered products. The company uses advanced computer assisted technology to design and make its products.

Another company offering similar products was the Mei Chuan Corporation. This embroidery specialist showcased a full range of military-type insignias as well as new fashion styles that incorporate embroidery.

Moving Upstream

Douglas Hsu, chairman of Far Eastern Textile Co., says Taiwan can play a bigger role as a midstream and upstream producer in the global textile industry. "In order to maintain that position," Hsu comments. "Taiwanese firms must focus on a combination of technology and creativity."

Hsu, a former chairman for the TTF, has served for the textile industry since working as an apprentice in his father's factory in Shanghai, mainland China in his twenties. This background has enabled him to see, first-hand, the development of Taiwan's textile and apparel industry from its first beginnings.

Everest Textile Co., another Taiwan manufacturer, showcased new multifunctional synthetic fabrics for apparel and accessories at the show. The company sells many of its products under the "Evertek" brand.

Everest is a knowledge-intensive textile manufacturer that has emphasized integrity, innovation and speed as the guiding tenets in its development.

At TITAS 2005, Everest showcased its high-performance and protection sports and outdoor collection; its more style-oriented city collection; and its natural-fit casual collection.

The company also sells an "Ever PTFE" range of products made with multi-layer and micro-porous Teflon film. This material has special properties such as thermal protection, high performance, durability, and softness.

Everest also produces chemical-free bamboo charcoal with unique natural anti-bacterial and anti-odor properties. Bamboo charcoal also has a far infrared effect that naturally warms the body.

Indian Hand Woven Fabrics

Among the many innovative textile applications displayed at TITAS 2005 were also a wide range of hand-woven fabrics, made-ups and floor coverings by five leading and well-established Indian handloom manufacturers and exporters. The application has been organized for the first time at the TITAS by the Handloom Export Promotion Council (HEPC), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India.

Indian Handlooms showed off its hand-woven fabrics from India. The display attracted much attention, as leading European, American and Japanese designers have endorsed the immense fashion possibilities of such fabrics.

"Though our exporters have been successfully selling to leading Western nations for many years, we felt now it is time to introduce the charm of Indian handlooms to the Far East," says Koteswara Rao, business promotion officer, HEPC. "We have already been noticing an increasing interest from designers, retailers and importers from Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand in the last two years. We hope this exhibit will help TITAS visitors to explore the aesthetic world of hand-woven textile products from India."

According to Rao, exports of Indian handloom products for the fiscal year of 2004 are likely to exceed US$700 million. The majority of this revenue has been generated from exports to the U.S., European Union, and Japan, he said.

India is emerging as a major force in the global textile market, especially after the dismantling of quotas from January this year.

This year's TITAS exhibition also featured many innovative products as well as an array of well-established Taiwanese firms who have developed a spate of products covering the whole spectrum of the textile industry, from fibers to functional materials.

One such example is Haojey Corporation, which unveiled its new Texcare line, a name derived from the words "technical' and "care." The company was founded in 1979 and is headquartered in Taipei. Its 22,000-square-meter factory is located in the Touliu Industrial Expansion Park.

The company rolls out 8,000 tons of Spandex covering yarn and 6,000 tons of polyester textured yarn yearly. Since 1999, the company also has been working with the Japanese firm Asahikasei to produce innovative high-performance polyester yarns, such as hollow fibers, sweat-absorbing, UV blocking and elastic textured yarn.

In 2002, the company teamed up its technology with the Japanese firm Unitika Co. to develop new materials, such as nylon anti-bacterial DTY (drawn textured yarn), moisture absorbing DTY, and micro-filament DTY, all of which are marketed worldwide.

Haojey makes its products at a modern manufacturing factory equipped with cutting edge production equipment from Europe. The company has invested US$25 million in the plant and facilities over the past three years.

The company has implemented the ISO-9001 quality control management system throughout its manufacturing process. The company has established branches in Lyon of France and in Shanghai and Shaoxing of mainland China. In addition to supporting the company's development in mainland China, the Shanghai branch serves as the purchasing center for many European clients. The branch now focuses on purchasing fabrics for export and will buy ready-made garments for export to Europe in the future.