The 139th China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair) has now concluded, and here at Ningbo Jinmao Import & Export Co., Ltd., we are taking a moment to reflect on what was an exceptionally productive few days in Guangzhou.
For us, this edition of the Canton Fair was not just another exhibition — it was an opportunity to reconnect with long-standing partners, meet new buyers face-to-face, and demonstrate in real time why more and more international brands are choosing us as their custom garment manufacturing partner.
What We Brought to the Fair
Our booth this year was designed to give visitors a complete picture of our capabilities in a single walkthrough.
At the heart of our display was our custom OEM/ODM service offering—the ability to take a buyer’s concept, whether expressed as a sketch, a fabric swatch, or a reference garment, and deliver a production-ready sample within days. Our in-house design team was on-site throughout the event, conducting live design consultations with buyers who came with specific product ideas. The response was overwhelmingly positive.
We also showcased our full fabric and finishing portfolio, covering everything from everyday knits like single jersey and French terry to premium materials like scuba fabric and Sherpa fleece. On the finishing side, buyers had the chance to see physical samples of digital print, discharge print, flock print, puff print, patch embroidery, rhinestone application, and many more techniques that allow brands to create products with real shelf differentiation.
A dedicated corner of our booth was reserved for our sustainable manufacturing capabilities, featuring eco-friendly dyed fabrics, recycled material options, and ISO14001-certified processes that meet the environmental compliance standards increasingly demanded by European and North American brands.
Who We Met
Over the course of the fair, our team engaged with a diverse range of visitors—from established retail chains exploring new sourcing strategies to emerging fashion brands launching their first overseas production lines.
The geographic spread of buyer interest was particularly encouraging. We had substantive conversations with representatives from:
- ◆ Europe, where buyers are prioritizing supply chain transparency, sustainability credentials, and the ability to produce in smaller, more responsive batches.
- ◆ North America, where brands are actively seeking alternatives to existing supplier arrangements and showing strong interest in our OEM capabilities.
- ◆ Southeast Asia, where distributors are expanding their product portfolios and looking for flexible manufacturers who can support rapid product development.
What stood out most was the quality of the conversations. Buyers were not simply collecting business cards — they came with real projects, specific product briefs, and genuine intent. By the close of the Fair, we had initiated follow-up discussions on a significant number of new inquiries.
What Buyers Were Looking For
Based on our booth conversations, several clear themes emerged about where the global garment market is heading:
Small-batch, high-frequency production is no longer a niche request. More buyers are now planning production runs of 300–1,000 units per style/colorway, particularly for seasonal collections. Our ability to accommodate these smaller volumes without compromising unit pricing was a major point of interest.
Full-package solutions are in high demand. Buyers — especially those without in-house technical teams — are actively seeking suppliers who can manage everything from design and fabric sourcing through to finishing, packing, and shipment documentation. Our end-to-end capability positions us well for these requirements.
Sustainability is a baseline expectation, not a premium feature. Buyers from every region asked about our environmental credentials. Having ISO14001 certification and demonstrable eco-friendly processes gave us a credibility advantage in these conversations.
What We Achieved
While final business figures will take time to materialize through follow-up negotiations, the outcomes from this Canton Fair are already clear to us:
We have deepened relationships with existing clients who visited our booth specifically to discuss upcoming seasonal ranges. And we have validated that our investment in in-house design capability and flexible manufacturing infrastructure is directly aligned with where the market is moving.
We also used the fair as an opportunity to gather direct market intelligence—hearing firsthand what buyers are struggling with, what they want more of, and where existing suppliers are falling short. This feedback is already informing how we are refining our service offering for the second half of the year.
Looking Ahead
The connections made at the Canton Fair do not end when the exhibition halls close. Our team is now actively following up with every buyer who expressed interest, providing detailed quotations, sample schedules, and production plans.
For brands and retailers who missed us at this edition—or who are just beginning to explore their manufacturing options—we remain fully accessible.
We want to thank every buyer, partner, and colleague who stopped by our booth. The conversations we had in Guangzhou will shape the products we produce in the months ahead, and we look forward to turning those conversations into long-term partnerships.
Post time: May-07-2026