Shantou, maker of 85% of mainland China's bras and briefs, takes Canton Fair buyers to its factories

Shantou, in Guangdong, opened its first autumn intimate apparel export fair on November 2, linked to the 140th Canton Fair, China News Service reported. Buyers in Guangzhou were bused to Shantou to see samples and visit factories. The event runs until November 5.

Shantou’s intimate apparel market gathers more than 400 merchants and over 1,000 brands, all tied to their own factories, the operator said. Buyers from Spain, Egypt, Russia, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Kazakhstan and Nepal negotiated fabric, styles, price, stock and lead times and then toured production lines to check capacity and quality.

According to the local textile association, Shantou produces about 85% of mainland China’s bras and briefs. The operator says the market serves needs the Canton Fair does not, such as factory visits and audits and small orders with fast replenishment. A Pakistani buyer said that after seeing samples he would request prototypes and quotes directly from factories.

CSP take: for brands and importers that now buy Chinese lingerie through intermediaries, the fair is a chance to compare factories side by side and negotiate smaller lots. This reading is ours, not the source’s.