Kearing at h+h cologne 2026 & h+h Americas 2026: New Products, Real Conversations, and a Maker‘s Philosophy

May 2026

A season of connection and innovation

The past few months have been busy for Kearing. In March, we exhibited at h+h cologne in Germany, launching several brand‑new tools. Shortly after, our founder and CEO, Jason Zhao, was invited to speak on the State of the Industry Panel at h+h Americas 2026 in Chicago —the premier B2B trade show for the North American fiber and handicraft industry, held at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois.

Two continents, two different events – but the same core message: good tools are made with care, built to last, and meant to be felt in the hand.

Below we share our latest product lineup from Cologne, together with some of Jason‘s personal thoughts from the Chicago panel – on manufacturing, retail shifts, sustainability, AI, and why he still believes the future of handmade is bright.

h+h cologne 2026 – New products you can try

From March 20 to 22, 2026, h+h cologne once again brought together the global handcraft and textile arts community in Cologne, Germany. With a new hall layout and a more streamlined flow, the show created a focused atmosphere for deeper conversations.

Kearing booth: Hall 11.2 – T003

Throughout the three days, visitors stopped by to touch, test, and compare. “Trying it yourself” is always at the heart of our booth – tools are not just for looking at, but for experiencing.

What was new

• 9″ Pinking Shears – Clean, continuous zigzag edges with stability and comfort. Available in lightweight and full‑metal versions. Works smoothly on many fabrics.
• Iron Cleaning Paste – Quickly removes residue and burnt marks from iron soles, restoring smooth gliding. Safe and convenient.
• Equal‑spacing Ruler – Aerospace‑grade aluminum alloy. Perfect for buttonholes, pleats, patchwork, and any evenly spaced marking. Dramatically improves precision in repetitive work.
• Self‑healing Cutting Mat – Multi‑layer construction with a self‑healing surface. Durable, stable, and ideal for cutting and pattern making.

What we heard from visitors

• Practical innovation gets the most attention – products that genuinely save time and reduce frustration.
• Good tools speak for themselves – precision, feel, and consistency are still how users define “quality”.
• Firsthand experience is irreplaceable – only by testing can someone truly trust a tool.

🔗 Related: Kearing at h+h cologne 2026 – full event coverage

h+h Americas 2026 – A manufacturer‘s view of the industry

While the Cologne show focused on products, the State of the Industry Panel in Chicago focused on big questions: retail changes, tariffs, new shop owners, social media, and the next generation of makers. The 2026 edition of h+h americas brought together 636 companies from 27 nations, spanning over 100,000 square feet of exhibit space.

Jason was invited to share Kearing’s perspective – not as a retail expert, but as someone who has personally made tools with his own hands for many years. Here are some highlights from his conversation (with his wife Yuan interpreting on stage).

🔗 Official: h+h americas 2026 Event Overview | Exhibitor List | Venue Information

“I‘m probably the only CEO here who doesn’t speak good English”

Jason opened with a light‑hearted self‑introduction, then told the story of why he started Kearing decades ago: he saw disappearing‑ink markers on the market that dried out too quickly. So he locked himself at home, ran thousands of experiments, and developed a formula that stays usable for years. That experience shaped his whole philosophy: a product must solve a real pain point or clearly improve the user experience.

“On this stage we have retailers, designers, and industry leaders. But I may be the only person here who has actually made, with my own hands, the tools that people use every day. I come from China‘s manufacturing world. My perspective may be different, and I hope that difference brings you some new thoughts.”

🔗 Background: Kearing Company Profile

On Joann‘s closure – painful, but also an opening

Kearing did not sell directly to Joann, but Jason felt the shock through the supply chain. He believes the closure reflects a deep change in consumer behavior – younger people are used to online shopping and fast delivery.

“A large chain retail model in a country like the U.S. has to actively change with the times. If it does not change, collapse may simply become part of the times.”

At the same time, he sees new opportunities for independent retailers and community‑based shops. Consumers now have more chances to discover specialized stores and new brands.

“Our job as manufacturers is to make products worthy of those carefully curated shops – so when a customer picks up a tool, they feel that someone has truly thought about and carefully made it.”

Diversification: not for the sake of more products

Jason shared Kearing‘s own approach: “Original + Redo” .

• Original means creating something truly new – like their heat‑resistant ironing rulers, which solved the long‑standing problem of transparent rulers melting under a hot iron.
• Redo means taking existing product categories and remaking them better – in design, materials, packaging, and user feel. Their iron cleaning paste, shears, and cutting mats all came from this idea.

“Younger generations want products that feel modern, beautiful, and a little more human. A tool should have warmth in the hand. That is why I believe every product deserves to be made again, and made better.”

Helping new shop owners succeed

Jason started his own business when he was very young. He says the real starting point of entrepreneurship is interest and the inner desire to change something.

For brand owners, practical help matters: reasonable MOQs, better product information, and good training. But the most important thing is giving them products that customers remember, come back for, and recommend.

“If the first tool a new shop owner sells gives the customer a real sense of surprise, that customer may remember not only the tool, but also the shop.”

Tariffs, inflation, and localized operations

Jason was direct: tariffs and economic uncertainty have hit manufacturing brands based in China. But Kearing started building localized operations early. In 2017, they established a U.S. company in Houston, later adding entities in Paris and London.

“Today, many U.S. customers work with Kearing through our local entity. Our U.S. inventory helps us support partners more quickly. Through these efforts, we have basically passed through the most chaotic stage.”

Where trends come from – and social media

Kearing finds trends through two main channels: traveling to shows around the world (Cologne, Chicago, Tokyo, Shanghai, etc.), and first‑hand end‑user feedback from e‑commerce platforms like Amazon.

Jason also mentioned the Chinese platform Xiaohongshu (RED), where many craft bloggers share unboxing and usage reviews. He noted that every country is different, but genuine user content is a powerful way to reach consumers.

Nurturing the next generation of makers

Jason shared a review from an Amazon customer who started sewing at age seven. She said:

“If you are a beginner, these shears are a worthwhile investment. The quality may inspire you to go deeper into the creative joy of sewing. Even if you have been sewing your whole life and have never tried shears like this, buy them. You will be very pleasantly surprised.”

For Jason, that review confirmed his belief: a good tool can truly help a young newcomer fall in love with making. The first experience matters enormously. If the first tool a young person tries is cheap and frustrating, they may quit quickly. But a thoughtful, well‑made tool can spark a lifelong passion.

Sustainability: quality is the best sustainability

Kearing has been reducing plastic from product design and packaging. But Jason says:

“A high‑quality product that can be used for many years is the best form of sustainability.”

He told the story of a customer in Berlin who bought one of Kearing‘s rulers 15 years ago. The ruler still works – only some markings have worn down. She left a message on their website asking where she could buy it again, and thanked them for making such a good product.

“Some people laughed at me: ‘If you make the product this good, how can you sell more? How will customers come back?’ But 15 years later, this returning customer gave me the answer. She came back not because the product failed, but because she truly loved it.”

🔗 Related: Kearing‘s BSCI Certification & Social Responsibility | Company History since 1995

AI – a tool, not a replacement

Kearing uses AI for research, formulation validation, and product testing. But the company does not publish fully AI‑generated articles, images, or videos.

“In the craft industry, the most important thing is still the feeling of making something with your own hands. AI serves us, but it cannot replace the hands‑on process.”

Jason even believes the AGI era could be good for crafts – more people may have more free time, and they will spend that time making things not just for function, but for joy.

“I am full of confidence in the future of our industry.”

Beyond the shows – conversations continue

The end of a trade fair does not mean the end of the dialogue. We are actively following up with everyone we met in Cologne and Chicago, sharing product information, collecting feedback, and incorporating insights into the next phase of development.

Thank you

To everyone who visited our booth in Cologne or listened to the panel in Chicago – thank you. Your time, feedback, and engagement are what keep us moving forward.

We look forward to staying in touch, and to seeing you again at the next h+h cologne, h+h Americas, or wherever makers and shop owners gather.

Warmly,
The Kearing Team