HONG KONG — South Korean and Taiwanese firms stepped up their efforts to present themselves as viable alternatives to China at this year’s Interstoff Asia show.
A total of 276 companies from 12 countries participated in the spring fair, but the South Korean and Taiwanese pavilions were clearly dominant. The Korean group, 30-strong, enjoyed steady traffic through its “Dynamic Korea” pavilion, while 18 Taiwanese exhibitors benefited from the Taiwan Textile Federation’s expansive and popular demonstration area. The objective was the same for both countries: convince buyers that China is not the only place to go for fabrics.
Young-sang Yoon, vice chairman of the Korean Fashion Textile Association, said China and South Korea offer two distinct products.
“We don’t want to compete with low-quality items,” Yoon said. “The difference is in the finished product. The main item in China is poly-cotton. If we offer the same product in Korea, it will cost $2 more per yard.”
As an alternative, Yoon said, Korean manufacturers are touting their higher-quality production and are moving toward specializing in polyester blends.
While Taiwanese manufacturers are focusing their message on quality, they are also playing up their advantages in technology and geography.
Justin Huang, secretary general of the Taiwan Textile Federation, conceded that Taiwan cannot compete with China on price.
“But quality and technology are advantages,” said Huang. “After the elimination of quotas, we were afraid of the impact on our exports, but we are now quite pleased to be so close to China. Geographically, it’s convenient for us to do business and to enter the domestic market there.”
Huang was referring to the dropping of textile and apparel quotas among all World Trade Organization countries last year. But a China caveat has resulted in fresh quotas with the U.S. and European Union through 2008 and 2007, respectively.
Huang cited Taiwan’s ability to handle supply chain management in China and the run-up to the Summer Olympics to take place in Beijing in 2008. The much-anticipated Games are prompting countless sportswear retailers to open shops and expand merchandise offerings, providing a boost to Taiwan’s technical fabric producers.
Tim Ying, sales manager of Fortune Ltd., a maker of sports fabrics for companies such as Reebok and Adidas, has noticed the increased interest in technical fibers, as well. Fortune displayed “computer jacquard” sportswear materials, some with body-mapping prints that Ying describes as the next generation in functional fabrics.
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“The [iridescent] shine in the fabrics also is proving very desirable,” Ying said.
Functionality was a common theme among exhibitors throughout the show. The Taiwan federation set up a large testing area in its pavilion to display the functionality of its fabrics, with demonstrations of resistance to water, wind and fire. Other fabrics exhibited during the fair were noted for having antibacterial properties, UV-ray protection and stain resistance. Huang said Taiwan now certifies 14 different functions.
“Function is in the fiber now,” he said. “It’s not something that will wash off. We’re proud to have the certificate system for functions that help us show why we’re better.”
This spring’s fair featured almost no participation from Indian silk and cotton suppliers, and only a few Pakistani exhibitors. Normally, they are out in force showing denim. One of the few that showed was newcomer Classic Denim Mills, which believes it is competitive with China.
“We have … new technology and we’re able to produce quality and quantity,” said Shahzad Haroon, a managing partner of the firm. “At our level, the Chinese are more expensive than Pakistan.”