The biggest challenge for most companies in the fashion industry is to continually develop state-of-the-art products. There is a growing need to add more technical aspects to yarns and to work intensely in R & D, in partnership with flat bed and circular knit machine manufacturers. With this in mind, SPINEXPO^TM encourages and assists key textile professionals to present their company’s new developments in an environment that is very focused on the innovative side of the industry.

DIMENSIONS: The theme for the upcoming trend directions at SPINEXPO Shanghai and New York

Key concepts for the trends presented at SPINEXPO are function, surface inspiration, threaded precision, tactile technology and the idea of noble fibres commingling with recycled plastic or other functional yarns.  Exhibitors’ collections are both rich and innovative, mixing elements that we could never have imagined blending together.  Compact yarns with stretch, plasticized finishing, thick boucles and tape yarns with lightly pearlised and metallized finishes cohabitate with performance yarns.

The Knitwear Supply Chain: Collaboration Builds Better Products

Spinners and knitters are teaming up to provide buyers with better, more innovative products and faster service.  In addition, they are working more closely together than ever before to co-develop products.

Over the last decade, the relationships between spinners and knitters have shifted from being driven by the knitters to being more heavily influenced by the spinners.  

“Nowadays, spinners are having more of a leadership role in the production process. Buyers will come to the spinners and select the yarns they like. Then the spinners will find knitters to make the final product for the buyers. This shift has prompted knitters to initiate affiliations with spinners,” explained Boris Xue, Chairman and General Manager, Ningbo Consinee.

The result is a more collaborative approach to product development and production.  Spinners, Knitwear Manufacturers and client brands bring more dynamism to the final product. “Often times, we will give our product to a few knitters and ask for their input as to how we can improve the product,” said Mr. Xue.

According to many of the industry’s leaders this is part of a larger shift that has led to more transparency throughout the supply chain – from fibre producer through to the retailer. UPW is one of the spinners that work closely with both upstream suppliers and downstream retailers and brands. “We work closely with many of top knitters. However, we also make sure we communicate with the retailers. A lot is centered on what retailers are asking for and we will create products especially for them. Once the retailer decides what they want, the whole supply chain collaborates to make it happen,” said Stephen Trigg, Creative Director, UPW.

UPW is not the only spinner to understand the importance of this collaboration. “Buyers make their yarn purchasing decisions based on the final product they see. This is why we work with knitters to develop tailor-made samples for buyers free of charge.  By working together we can develop better, more innovative products that meet specific buyer needs,” said Samson Lam, Director, Winning Textile.

“We work with knitters to develop new products according to the buyers’ requirements. This way we can provide buyers with a whole package,” confirmed Tiara Xu, R & D Manager, AA Global.

Working together benefits everyone

Collaboration between spinners and knitters is not limited to design and product development. By working together, spinners and knitter help each other facilitate the production process.

“Each season we ask our partner knitters to make knitwear using our new developments.  This showcases our yarns as well as the knitters’ technical skills.  If the designer likes the garment, they will very likely use our yarn along with the knitter who made the sample to produce the final order,” added Ms. Xu.

Sharing market intelligence is another important part of the collaboration between spinners and knitters. Yarn suppliers and knitting factories are communicating much more frequently than they used to. “Buyers will come to us to pick out yarns for their new collection. We will share this knowledge with our knitters. Then, knitters will make their samples and present them to the buyers,” said Jacky Chen, Director at Yarns & Colors.

“Spinners used to charge commissions for referring buyers to knitters. Now most spinners share this knowledge with their partner knitters for free.  It is more important to work together to improve the product and create an efficient supply chain,” added Mr. Chen.

SPINEXPO^TM SHANGHAI

1-3 September 2015

The Shanghai World Expo Convention & Exhibition Centre

SPINEXPO Website: www.spinexpo.com

SPINEXPO Blog: www.spinexplore.com

Visitor can pre-register on the Web. The show is open to business professionals and the trade. Admission is free-of-charge.