(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) The debut International Textile Fair (ITF) was excitedly welcomed by textile buyers, distributors and designers from the Gulf region.
As many as 99 companies from around the globe showcased new trends in fashion, fabrics and clothing at the two-day event which opened at Dubai World Trade Centre on Monday.
The International Textile Fair debuts in Dubai at a time when the UAE's annual textile exports crossed $1.6 billion, representing 7.7 per cent of the global export market. The UAE is the world's third largest exporter of textiles, after the United States and the United Kingdom.
"Dubai has been a major textile hub for a long time, but so far it did not have its own textile show. Today, we have filled that vacuum and we are delighted with the response," said show organiser Dilip Nihalani of Nihalani Brothers.
The fair has attracted a wide range of textile mills and a large print designers. Exhibitors are mainly from Europe, India, China, Indonesia, Mongolia, Japan, Korea, Turkey, Italy, France, Spain, Pakistan, Mongolia, Taiwan and Hong Kong as well as other high-end manufacturers from around the world.
"In the first few hours after the opening, we had a footfall of 3,000 visitors, an impressive number for a debut show. We expect a huge turnout over the two days of the show," Nihalani said.
The highlights of the shows are the spring and summer 2015 pre-collection and autumn and winter collection of trendy fabrics. The fair provides a platform for buyers and designers to view the showcased latest trims and accessories, from current ranges to 2015's pre-collections.
Swarovski, one of the high-profile exhibitors, featured its new collection of crystals and accessories at the show. Another major exhibitor was the Italian textile design company, Maritex Di Desenzani Maria Maddalena, which showcased its trendy designs.
The ITF is expected to give boost to the booming UAE textile industry which was valued at $13.2 billion (Dh48.5 billion) in 2011, and is growing at 9.9 per cent annually, according to industry figures.
The Gulf countries are gradually becoming the world's leading textile manufacturing and trading centres due to a sound economic environment and fair trade practices, according to a recent international report. By 2016, the UAE will become the world's leading high-end textile and garment re-export centre.
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