GFT 2026

Attendees, exhibitors & solutions

Who this event is for

New this edition

• 1

  —

  Content series featuring Thai textile businesses; episode 4 profiles PASAYA on the GFT news and media channel.

  Source
• 2

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  GFT conference page lists sessions including a 'Think, Make, Change' Design Workshop and a 'Minutes, not Months' session.

  Source

Industry trends

Key trends shaping this market and its wider industry.

Market news

Latest updates from across the market.

Arrival airports

Choose from the following airports, with convenient access to the event and venue.

Hotel tiers

A range of accommodation options near the venue and across key areas.

Local transport

Get around the city with these convenient transport options.

Frequently asked

Glossary

1

CMT (Cut, Make, Trim)

The production model where the buyer supplies fabric and the factory charges for cutting, sewing and trimming only. CMT factories are the core visitor group at machinery-led garment shows, because their margin depends directly on sewing speed and labour cost per minute.

2

OEM vs ODM

OEM (original equipment manufacturer) builds to the buyer's design and tech pack; ODM (original design manufacturer) offers its own designs for the buyer to rebrand. Both exhibit at GFT Expo, and the difference decides how much development work sits with your team.

3

Tech pack

The specification document a brand sends to a factory: measurements, construction, fabric, colourways, trims and stitch details. Useful to carry printed copies and files to the show when discussing sampling or machinery trials.

4

Marker making

The CAD step that nests pattern pieces onto fabric width to minimise waste. Marker software and automatic cutters are usually demonstrated together, and fabric utilisation percentage is the number to compare between suppliers.

5

Spreading and cutting automation

Mechanical spreading of fabric plies followed by CNC knife or laser cutting. The relevant questions at the show are ply height, achievable cutting accuracy on knits versus wovens, and how the system handles small orders.

6

Multi-head embroidery

A machine carrying several sewing heads that embroider the same design on multiple garments at once. Head count, maximum field size, sequin and chenille attachments, and changeover time between jobs are the usual comparison points.

7

Functional finishing

Treatments applied to fabric or garments for moisture management, anti-microbial, UV protection, water repellency, softening or anti-pilling. Functional textile suppliers exhibit alongside machinery, so a finish and the equipment to apply it can be sourced together.

8

Compacting and pre-shrinking

Finishing processes that stabilise knit fabric so garments do not shrink after washing. Relevant to factories moving from basic CMT into higher-value knitwear for export.

9

MOQ (minimum order quantity)

The smallest order a mill, trim supplier or factory will accept. It is the first question to ask when you are sourcing fabric or trims for a test collection rather than a full production run.

10

AQL inspection

Acceptable quality limit sampling, the statistical method used at final inspection to accept or reject a lot. Third-party inspection and testing services appear at textile and garment trade fairs alongside production equipment.

11

GSD (General Sewing Data)

A predetermined time system used to set standard minute values for sewing operations. Factories use GSD figures to calculate line capacity and to judge whether a quoted machine speed will actually pay back.

12

Line balancing and industrial engineering (IE)

The allocation of operations across workstations so no operator becomes the bottleneck of a sewing line. Machine layout, folder attachments and automated units are usually sold against this metric rather than raw stitches per minute.