The Functional Lab returns to Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Autumn Edition 2016 and will showcase a broad variety of innovative fabrics in hall 5.2. Exhibitors in the zone like Invista, Unifi, Protect Accessory, Nilit, Toyobo and others will display fabric with properties like thermo-regulation, moisture wicking, windproof, etc. According to the Messe Frankfurt, the fair organiser, the Functional Lab is fast becoming a platform for exhibitors to launch new products in the market. Far Eastern New Century (FENC) from Taiwan will show DynaFeed, a smart textile which debuted earlier this year. It will also exhibit the world’s first 100 per cent bio-polyester t-shirts at the fair. Another Taiwan firm, Zig Sheng Industrial recycles waste yarns and fabrics; fishing nets and production scraps to produce recycled nylon resins. Japanese firm Toyobo will present its new ‘Supli’ acrylate fibre that has pH control function and humidity retention functionality alongside functional acrylic materials and thermal insulation functional materials for sportswear, casualwear and undergarments. DuPont will host a panel discussion session titled ‘Get Ready for the Smart Textile Era’ on October 11, which will share how smart wearable devices like Google Glass, virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), influence the traditional textile industry, as well as the challenges and opportunities for smart textiles.
