#China #Guangzhou #Canton Fair #AI in Fashion #Spring Summer 2026

The 137th Canton Fair: A Glimpse into the Future of Fashion

The 137th China Import and Export Fair, known as the Canton Fair, recently showcased significant advancements in the fashion industry during its "Design Innovation Forum – Trendy Design Leads a New Era of Fashion". The event drew numerous industry leaders, fashion designers, and brand executives to discuss the evolving landscape of fashion design and technology applications.

One of the key highlights was the unveiling of the POP Fashion Trend Report for spring/summer 2026, presented by the esteemed Cao Lei, a leading fashion trend expert from POP Shejie. This report identifies new fashion trends shaped by shifts in consumer behavior, lifestyle values, and global influences such as sustainability, emotional connection, and the integration of AI in design. Notably, the report stressed that optimism, resilience, and nature-focused innovation will be critical in shaping the next era of fashion.

Despite the challenges posed by global market uncertainties, the fashion industry demonstrates considerable resilience. The forum examined how the shift toward small-batch, multi-style, and agile production is setting new standards in the industry. Consumers are increasingly demanding personalized, sustainable, and functional fashion, prompting a transition from inspiration-led creation to data-driven design.

A central theme of the forum was the transformative power of artificial intelligence in the fashion realm. Representatives from POP Shejie, Style 3D, Shangjie Cloud, and Zhijing Technology detailed how AI is generating new growth models, redefining creative processes, and providing competitive advantages in the market. Han Xiaojun, Chief AI Creator at POP Shejie, emphasized that AI does not replace creators but empowers them. "Future creators need to master AI prompt engineering, design evaluation, and brand alignment, transitioning into creative strategists who merge data with intuition," he stated.

Furthermore, Xiao Rong, a digital consultant from Style 3D, highlighted the integration of 3D and AI, which has reduced sample production by 50% and tripled research and development efficiency. Hu Ping, General Manager of Shangjie Cloud, discussed the importance of digital product management, advising companies to develop data-centric 'digital brains' to drive innovation. Zhang Chengdong, AI Expert at Zhijing Technology, introduced the AI Fashion Mind system, which couples trend forecasting with supply chain capabilities, thus expediting on-demand production at scale.

The forum underscored the increasing significance of the Canton Fair, not only as a sourcing hub but also as a platform for innovation and collaboration. In light of unprecedented changes within the fashion industry, mastering trend knowledge, technological integration, and responsiveness will be essential to future growth.

Looking ahead, the 138th Canton Fair is scheduled to take place from October 15 to November 4, 2025, in Guangzhou. Attendees and interested parties can find more information on Canton Fair's official website. The future of fashion is promising, with a unique blend of creativity and technology paving the way for innovative and sustainable trends that resonate with today's consumers.