Report Summary

A number of spinners were taking an optimistic view of business prospects at the European yarn fairs for autumn/winter 2011/12, despite considerable uncertainty as to whether the global economic recovery could be maintained. The optimism stemmed from improved figures for Italian textile production and trade in the first quarter of 2010, plus a larger than expected attendance at the season's yarn fairs.

In reality, only in China does recovery appear to be going ahead unchecked. In this connection it is interesting to note that visitors from China ranked among the top 15 for the first time ever at the Pitti Immagine Filati yarn fair in Florence. And at the now much reduced Expofil yarn fair in Paris, an event once reserved exclusively for European spinners, nearly 45% were from outside Europe. Four exhibitors were from China or Hong Kong.

The two factors which emerged most strongly at the fairs were the use of natural fibres and concern for the environment. The growing ecological awareness of consumers is motivating spinners not only to source their materials from eco-friendly sources but also to devise production techniques which save energy and do not harm the environment.

There was also a notable increase among the yarns on show now aimed almost exclusively at the upper end of the market in the prevalence of fancy yarns, such as chenilles, boucles or yarns which are brushed or felted. Wool remains the key fibre for winter. However, in response to concerns as to how consumers perceive the comfort of wool garments worn next to the skin, superfine wools are being used to provide softness in multi-plied yarns for chunkier, heavier knits.

Survey of the European Yarn Fairs for Autumn/Winter 2011/12

Textiles Intelligence, Textile Outlook International

13 pages, published October 2010