Along with the wide range of home textiles on offer, Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles – Autumn Edition has a comprehensive line-up of design and trend features providing inspiration for 2014/15.

This includes the Intertextile International Lifestyle Trend Forum and China Home Textile Trend Forum, the debut appearance of ‘The Wool Lab Interiors’ display zone, design & trend seminars conducted by industry-leading experts and an interactive interior design forum.

The autumn edition of Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles is the largest event of its kind in Asia. Over 1,320 exhibitors from 31 countries and regions will display their latest products from 27 – 29 August at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre.

Visitors to the fair can gain fresh design ideas for 2014/15 in the Intertextile International Lifestyle Trend Forum. Designed by the International Lifestyle Trend Committee, the Trend Forum features four themes to help guide buyers through next season’s lifestyle trends in the interior decorations market: Bohemian Rhapsody, Dandy Select, Funtasy Heritage and Magic Nature. The committee is led by Nelly Rodi, the international trendsetter from the NellyRodi Agency in France.

Trend Forum tours will give visitors greater insight into the colour, design and texture trends for next season. These will be led by International Lifestyle Trend Committee members, and offered in English and Chinese.

Wool display zone by The Woolmark Company to make its debut

Making its first appearance at the fair is the ‘International Wool Art inspired by The Wool Lab Interiors’ display zone. In partnership with Wallpaper, the leading design, architecture, fashion and lifestyle magazine, seven international designers were invited to offer interpretations of ‘The Wool Lab Interiors’ trends. For the first time in China, four of these designers’ unique wool art installations will be on display at The Woolmark Company’s booth in hall W2.

In addition to the wool art, ‘The Wool Lab Interiors’ trends are also presented. These trends are dedicated to the furnishings sector, and are aimed at promoting the awareness of and potential applications for wool in the home textiles industry. A press conference to introduce the new cooperation between The Woolmark Company, Wallpaper and the fair organiser Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, will be held on Wednesday, 28 August at 3:00pm at this booth.

Seminars to provide further direction on next season’s trends

The design & trend seminars, held on day one of the fair, will elaborate on the ideas in the Trend Forum to help buyers better understand the 2014/15 trends. This includes a presentation by Vincent Gregoire, Artistic Director at the NellyRodi Agency titled ‘Fusion Trends 2014’.

Following this seminar, Ben Wu, Design Director for the W+S Design Group, will discuss ‘Contemporary Oriental Design Language’. The day will conclude with a seminar titled ‘Decoding of the Trends of the 2014/15 China Home Textiles Market and their Application in Design’, led by Cui PingPing from Concept & Style Fashion Project Group.

Also on day one is the Interior Design Forum. This interactive session will feature local and international designers who will share their thoughts on the latest interior design trends.

For day two seminars, the focus shifts to market information. And a number of exhibitors’ brand sharing sessions will also take place, including PASAYA from Thailand, LaCanTouch Home Décor from China and The Woolmark Company from Australia. More information can be found on the fair’s website.

Day two also sees the Crossover Design Forum take place. Topics covered include the role of the interior designer, the integration of soft and hard furnishing designs, and the feasibility of using soft furnishing fabrics in interior design.