Key Takeaways

• Fabric innovation is becoming the starting point of product development.

• Leading brands now involve textile suppliers earlier in the product planning process.

• Co-creation between designers and material developers shortens development cycles and reduces innovation risks.

• Functional fabrics now combine performance, comfort, and emotional value.

• Collaboration across the supply chain is becoming a competitive advantage in the intimate apparel industry.

On June 20th of last year, we gathered designers from the intimate apparel sector for an in-person exchange focused on color and fashion trends.

During that *Interfilière Insight* event, we observed a clear signal: trends are no longer merely "released" and "viewed"; designers are increasingly integrating trend insights into their product development decisions.

This shift brings a crucial question to the forefront:

Once a trend emerges, how does it actually make its way into product development?

With this question in mind, *Interfilière Insight* will once again step directly into the industry landscape on May 29th—visiting the Fujian Unitex Shanghai R&D Center.

This time, we aim to go beyond discussing trends in isolation; we want to take the next step and deconstruct the real-world relationships between trends, materials, and products.

Ahead of the event, we spoke with our host—Chris Lei, Head of the Fujian Unitex R&D Center.

Viewing the industry from the perspective of frontline R&D offers early insight into the evolving dynamics between brands and the supply chain.

Fabric is becoming the "Opening line" of a product's story

Q1: What is the biggest change in fabric development requirements from brand clients compared to the past?

"To sum it up in one sentence: in the past, fabric was the 'foundational raw material' for a garment; today, it often serves as the 'opening line' of a brand's product story." This statement by Chris encapsulates the industry's most fundamental shift.

In his view, the essence of this change lies in consumers becoming more "savvy"—"they are acutely aware of what they need and possess a much keener sense of discernment."

It goes beyond functional needs—such as "cloud-like, soothing comfort" or "3D texture combined with moisture-wicking, quick-dry, and snag-resistant properties"—to encompass usage scenarios: a single product must be suitable for sports, commuting, and social occasions alike.

This has fundamentally altered the development logic for brands, shifting the focus from simply sourcing a fabric at the right price to creating comprehensive solutions that address multi-scenario needs. Development timelines have also shifted earlier; Chris notes that while the past involved selecting stock fabrics or inquiring about greige goods, standard products can no longer satisfy these complex, multifaceted demands. At Fujian Unitex, this shift was anticipated early on: "We moved R&D up to the product planning stage; from project inception to market launch—and even while the fabric was still in the incubation phase—we were already weaving a story into its very DNA."

When a fabric embodies both functionality and emotional expression, it ceases to be merely a material and becomes an integral part of the product's narrative. As Chris puts it: "When a fabric addresses functional needs for specific scenarios while simultaneously creating emotional value, it has effectively told half the product's story for the brand."

A complete translation from "data" to "product"

Q2: Is there a memorable example of brand co-creation you can share that illustrates the process from initial requirement to final execution?

Speaking of "co-creation" and "end-to-end execution," Chris shared a recent collaboration with a top-tier international sports brand. It vividly demonstrated that "while spotting a trend is one thing, the real challenge lies in transforming it into an actual product."

It began with a set of experimental data showing significant differences in sweat levels and heat sensation across various parts of the human body during exercise.

Based on this, the brand outlined a requirement: to develop a warp-knit fabric featuring "body mapping" capabilities—delivering differentiated moisture-wicking and heat dissipation across specific zones.

The challenge, however, was that while the brand had a clear need, it lacked the specific expertise required for pattern and structural design.

Fujian Unitex stepped in to bridge this gap.

"I immediately proposed six pattern concepts that blended functionality with aesthetics to open up a path forward. Subsequently, the team re-aligned everything from yarn specifications to weaving structures, translating abstract concepts into concrete technical parameters."

After finalizing the design, Chris worked directly with the R&D manager to fine-tune yarn specifications and weaving details based on the fabric's unique characteristics, precisely translating the brand's abstract vision into real-world specifications.

What further demonstrated their "end-to-end capability" were the subsequent steps taken—actions that completely transcended the mindset of "simply selling fabric." Chris emphasizes: "We don't just produce fabrics; we adopt the perspective of a finished-garment manufacturer, turning fabrics into prototypes and shipping them to clients within 24 hours."

Although the project was ultimately shelved due to a shift in the brand's strategy, Chris views it as a successful implementation: "Because what was truly realized wasn't just a product, but the client's trust in our execution capabilities."

This case perfectly illustrates Fujian Unitex’s core belief: the value of a supply chain and its ability to foster client loyalty today depend not on the scale of production capacity, but on product creativity—specifically, the ability to grasp the essence of a product from the outset and to use faster, more precise R&D and execution to help brands turn imaginative concepts into reality.

The Supply Chain of the Future: Translating Trends and Managing Risk

Q3: What kind of fabric partner do brands need most in the future?

As development logic shifts, the role of the supply chain is being redefined. In the worldview of Fujian Unitex, a top-tier future supply chain must embody two roles simultaneously: "innovation translator" and "risk manager."

Chris believes that a fashion solution provider needs two core capabilities:

First, "translation capability"

"Design language is emotional—terms like 'light as a cloud' or 'like a second skin'—but machines don't understand that."

The value of the supply chain lies in translating these expressions into specific yarn choices, structural designs, and processing solutions. Chris believes that development isn't just about recognizing what's popular; it's about truly knowing how to turn a trend into a tangible product.

Second, "risk management capability"

In a rapidly changing market, time itself is a risk. "The cost of trial and error is extremely high right now; trends and viral phenomena are fleeting. What brands fear most is a development cycle that is too long, resulting in a product that launches only after the window of opportunity has closed."

Therefore, the supply chain requires:

Rapid development capabilities

Risk anticipation capabilities

Collaborative problem-solving capabilities

Fujian Unitex acts as the "driving force" behind brands: "Our goal is to partner with brands to turn their imaginative ideas into reality—faster and more precisely."

Spring/Summer 2026 Edition – Registration Now Open

It is against this backdrop that Fujian Unitex has decided to open its Shanghai showroom and innovation/R&D space. At Fujian Unitex, we believe that great products shouldn't simply sit on a display rack; they deserve to be understood and discussed. This "real-world scenario" approach holds far more value than static trend reports alone. As Chris puts it: "Many trends remain confined to reports, making it difficult to truly bring them to life."

True transformation occurs when designers can physically touch the materials, engage in dialogue, and offer input that shapes the direction of development.

Returning to our initial question: how does a trend evolve, step by step, into a tangible product? This time, we are going beyond mere discussion to actually "recreate" that process.

In this event, you will experience the full "Color × Material × Design" workflow, featuring:

✔ Coloro trend insights

✔ An overview of Fujian Unitex’s material development process

✔ A showroom tour

✔ A "Color × Material Lab" co-creation session

This is more than a traditional industry seminar, but a collaborative experiment. Working alongside other designers, you will start with trend colors, select materials, and build design concepts—truly bridging the gap between "understanding trends" and "applying trends."