The model Y1533 metallic fabric from Shanghai Yourigh incorporates cotton and polyester blends.

Encouraged by rising demand, China makers of metallic fabric are gearing R&D toward launching a wider range of models.

In line with fashion trends, metallic fabric is increasingly becoming a preferred material for garments, handbags and shoes. This has prompted OEM-oriented suppliers to produce a greater assortment of designs in various colors and finishes. Moreover, R&D teams are conducting research to create easy-care versions that can withstand machine washing and ironing.

The latest releases have cotton, wool and polyester blends for increased comfort and stretch. To ensure softness, the proportion of metallic yarn in the construction is kept at 10 percent.

Suppliers use aluminum-metallized polyester sourced mostly from Japan. Other fiber types are procured locally.

Further, companies are improving efficiency by investing in advanced equipment, most of which is imported. Doing so allows them to finish nearly all production steps in-house, thereby shortening the lead time. For most suppliers at present, however, dyeing is still outsourced to specialist factories. Only large companies have the capability to do this process internally.

Among the suppliers interviewed for this report, Zhejiang Delong Summit Textile Co. Ltd has 100 Picanol air-jet looms from Belgium at its 6,000sqm plant. The 21-member R&D team launches 10 to 15 models monthly using Adobe Photoshop and CAD software. It finishes samples in seven to 10 days.

Zhejiang Delong Summit exports metallic fabric with wool and cotton blends to OEM and ODM clients in the US, Europe, South Korea and Japan.

Production at Hangzhou Qiutian Co. Ltd's 30,000sqm facility involves equipment from Japan's Toyota, Germany's Karl Mayer, Switzerland's Benninger and Italy's Caru. The supplier also has dyeing machines from South Korea. The company has a monthly capacity of 3 to 4 million meters.

Hangzhou Qiutian also makes bamboo, mesh, embroidered and rayon fabric. The US, Europe and Asia are the main export markets.

At Wuijiang Sanfeng Textile Co. Ltd, the R&D team is focused on reducing lead time from 10 days to seven. There are five designers at present, and one more will be hired later this year.

The company's 150,000sqm Shengzhe factory has water-jet looms from Japan's Tsudakoma. There are 2,700 workers.

The 25-member R&D team at Shanghai Yourigh International Industry Co. Ltd launches 100 designs annually using CAD software. The designers are concentrating on softer and wrinkle-resistant variants.

The supplier also offers other types of fabric, and women's dresses, pants and shirts. The US, the Middle East and Europe are the main markets.

Wuijiang South-east Sea Textile Co. Ltd's 55,000sqm factory has 150 air-jet and 200 water-jet looms from Tsudakoma.

Products come mostly in dobby, twill and satin weaves, with exports going to the US, Europe, South Korea and Japan.

Because of the yuan's appreciation and increasing manufacturing costs, prices are expected to rise by 3 to 8 percent in coming months. Of the interviewed suppliers, only Zhejiang Delong Summit will keep quotes at current rates.

To cater to requirements in the main markets of the US and the EU, China makers are taking steps to ensure the quality of products.

Wujiang South-east Sea has its models tested at SGS and Intertek.

Products from Wujiang Sanfeng and Shanghai Yourigh are compliant with the Oeko-Tex Standard 100.