Ontimeshow expands beyond fashion to furniture and innovation

The 23rd Ontimeshow, one of China's largest trade events for independent fashion designers, took place at the West Bund International Convention and Exhibition Center from October 9 to 12 as part of Shanghai Fashion Week SS2026.

The platform, which has steadily grown since 2014, has broadened its focus to include lifestyle, furniture, and material innovation, showcasing over 160 Chinese and international brands.

The exhibitor list featured Italian labels such as Lorena Antoniazzi, Avant Toi, Ermanno Firenze, and Pantanetti, alongside Southeast Asian brands like White Ant, Must Have, and Hacchic Blush.

Japan's trade promotion agency, JETRO, a first-time participant, presented 12 brands focused on Japanese craftsmanship and textile development.

Lineapelle and UNIC-Italian Tanneries organized a roundtable discussion titled "High Design Crafting Future." Participants from China and Italy discussed material sustainability and the evolving role of traditional crafts within global supply chains.

"We're seeing more collaboration between design and technology," said Wang Qi, a buyer from Guangdong Province. "It's not just about trends anymore; it's about systems and production models."

The trade fair's layout reflected an effort to bridge fashion with creative industries. Italian furniture brand Kartell, along with ROOMROOM Showroom, designed a central lounge area featuring translucent furniture and ambient lighting. The space served both as a rest zone and a display of design integration.

Ontimeshow also partnered with the Chinese luxury e-commerce platform Senser to explore new retail formats for domestic designer brands, linking show orders to online sales and consumer feedback.

"There's a stronger sense of dialogue here between markets, materials, and cultures," said Lydia Qiao, a designer from Beijing. "The mix feels more international than before but also more grounded in local craftsmanship."

Ontimeshow has been a hub for China's independent fashion scene and the global network since its founding. Its gradual shift toward cross-disciplinary design – integrating apparel, interiors, digital retail, and sustainable production – reflects trends in Asian fashion trade shows.

The "Symbiosis of Warp and Weft" theme highlighted that shift by uniting creative and industrial practice. It described how today's fashion ecosystem increasingly relies on cross-disciplinary and international collaboration, not ambition.