In a move to consolidate its position as the leading global trade fair for natural and environmentally friendly fabrics, a new eco-textile labeling system will be launched at Interstoff Asia Essential this year.
The new coding initiative comes after close consultation with one of Japan's top textile experts Sachiko Inoue, who has worked alongside some of her country's leading eco-textile manufacturers.
She is also a long-time member of the Interstoff Asia directions trend committee.
Asked why the new labeling system was necessary, Wendy Wen Ting, director of trade fairs at Messe Frankfurt (Hong Kong), organiser of the event, said: 'Buyers nowadays not only need to know if the fabric is eco-friendly, but also which aspects of the fabrics are eco-friendly and whether they have certification and proof.'
The new system will allow buyers to easily identify and understand the raw materials and processes. Fabrics are categorised under one of four coloured labels: green, brown, blue or silver.
A green label signifies fabrics made from certified organic or environmentally friendly raw materials, such as organic cotton, hemp, bamboo, corn fibre, soy beans, charcoal, polylactic acid fibre, or paper.