A new international fabric show will help to continue the renaissance of Yorkshire's cloth-producing companies, according to the organisation responsible for promoting the export of British textiles.

And the new event coincides with significant increases in the export of UK cloth to key overseas markets, especially the Far East.

Last September the incorporation of the Idea Biella exhibition into Italy's Milano Unica exhibition proved popular with many Yorkshire companies.

Such was the success of the event that it appears many textiles companies are being tempted away from the well-established twice yearly events at Premier Vision in Paris.

The British Wool Textile Export Corporation said the new Italian exhibition, also staged twice a year, had attracted more British menswear weavers to its next event at Rho Pero from February 14 to 17 next year.

The show is being seen by many of the Bradford district's top quality weavers as essential for marketing fine fabrics to key overseas markets such as Japan, Italy, the United States and, increasingly, China.

BWTEC said that during the first six months of 2005 there had been a huge 27 per cent increase in exports of British worsted cloths to Japan, viewed as Europe's main export customer.

"Italy has traditionally been a very strong market for the finest-quality English worsteds woven in West Yorkshire," said John Gaunt, managing director of Farsley-based Edwin Woodhouse.

"Discerning Italians seek quality fabrics as part of a traditional appreciation of the 'English Look' that began in the late 19th Century and continues throughout Italy today."

"Nearly all key Japanese buyers, particularly from the leading department stores and the all-important select stores, visited Milano Unica in September," said Richard Ryley, the new managing director of Reid & Taylor, the Scottish-based luxury producer.

Peter Ackroyd, director general of BWTEC, said: "Not all of the UK fabrics destined for Italy are destined for Italian customers. Increasingly, Italian high-quality garment manufacturing is making-up on behalf of the all-important retail sector in the United States and Japan.

"Given the enthusiasm within the UK industry for the Milan event this spring, we expect to see further companies wishing to participate in Biella Idea, Idea Como and Moda In for winter 2007 in the September 2006 edition of Milano Unica."

BWTEC chairman, John Walsh, who runs Guiseley-based woollen manufacturers Abraham Moon, said: "It's obvious that the critical mass in Biella, together with major weavers from England and Scotland being added to an already distinguished group of companies, will prove to be an increasingly attractive destination for blue-chip buyers worldwide."