Good attendance CPD DÜSSELDORF

Industry confirms CPD's Womenswear Competence: 44,000 buyers registered at the Fair, 58,500 across the Entire City

CPD DÜSSELDORF draws to a close after a successful weekend for the "profashionals" travelling to Düsseldorf from around the globe. With almost 44,000 specialist fashion retailers - nearly one third coming from abroad - good attendance underpinned the importance of CPD as the international information and "order-clinching" platform. Since the number of exhibitors remained as high as at the previous event, these results are particularly positive considering the obvious changes in the economic climate, not only in Germany but across Europe. The market survey conducted by the market research institute HFU and commissioned by the IGEDO clearly showed that the proportion of pre-orders taken at CPD dropped below 60% for the first time (57.4%) due to the many changes affecting scheduling and order behaviour in the international sector. This means that the proportion of re-orders and NOOS-orders has grown even further: the orders for Autumn/Winter 2005/06 still outstanding account for nearly 30%, and of these roughly one third were made at CPD DÜSSELDORF. 15.6% of pre-orders were taken at CPD. The information process influencing order decisions, and to some extent also the ordering process itself, clearly started earlier than in 2004 and is now deliberately being extended over a longer period of time. The scheduling of ranges and the enquires as to delivery periods, fashion themes and philosophies required an ever increasing amount of face-to-face communication during the exhibition. Over two thirds of visitors view CPD to be the decisive platform for this harmonisation and decision-making process - even more so than in the years before. Interest focuses on Womenswear

Registering 72.5% visitors interested in womenswear, women's fashion clearly moved back as the prime focus of visitors' interest compared with last year. Even visitors primarily interested in menswear were proportionately well represented at the fair in Düsseldorf with a figure of 27.5%. The menswear suppliers grouped in Hall 9 benefited, above all, from the strong attendance of foreign dealers especially from Russia and the eastern European neighbouring states stocking both menswear and womenswear ranges. All menswear exhibitors at CPD had some excellent export sales to report. Here the ranges offered by CLASSICO ITALIA met with particular interest. 14 of the 23 members making up this association of the finest suppliers of Italian tailoring were exhibiting for the first time at the Glas-Pavilion at CPD DÜSSELDORF. Driving Force behind the Location of Düsseldorf

The results of this market study also confirmed unambiguously that CPD serves as a driving force for all of Düsseldorf as a business location: 86% of those surveyed in Düsseldorf regard CPD as the real trend generator. They attribute over 80% of the estimated order volume triggered in Düsseldorf (amounting to approx. EUR 3 billion) to the fashion premiere nature of the fair. Accordingly, CPD is the trigger and coordinator of national and international order volumes. Posting 9.4% of new visitors especially from abroad, CPD DÜSSELDORF remains the "export showcase" of Europe. In view of this clear consolidation of Düsseldorf as a fashion location, the current confusion over fairs and the industry's clearly stated desire to return to one efficient, international fashion platform, the IGEDO Company has decided to not "stoke up" the fragmentation of the exhibition scenario even further: the planned launch of an additional early exhibition date was called off (see separate report). Further hall layout improvements with a stringent segmentation of ranges and Halls 9 to 11 as the visitor focus were very well received by buyers. The atmospheric setting and the inspiring layout of Hall 14 housing the Fashion Gallery met with special approval. The overwhelming numbers in the aisles reflected the lively interest taken by specialist retailers in extraordinary, design-driven collections for adding the finishing fashion touches to their ranges. Arranged as a fair within the fair, CPD White in Hall 15 with an international selection of bridal, cocktail & evening wear, also attracted a great deal of attention. The inspiring atmosphere, stimulating shows and the promotion of young talents contributed to creating a professional business climate. Great praise was given for the Communication Areas. Not forgetting the "Fashion Oasis" in the centre of the fair grounds which served as a very special, highly rated attraction.

Düsseldorf - offers a Glamour Power-Pack During the fashion fair Düsseldorf sparkled with great events. The programme started with the mega "Galeria Kö" catwalk show featuring superstars Nadja Auermann, Eva Padberg and German TV actor Erol Sander. Almost at the same time German fashion magazine PETRA presented the "PETRA GermanFashion AWARDS" to the best in German fashion. Starting on Sunday, a total of 40 fashion shows were staged on the catwalks of the Hall of Design and the Catwalk-Café of the Fashion Gallery. The topic of "art and fashion" was celebrated at the fair with special highlights: Elena Miro presented an international collection of paintings focusing on the sensual, baroque image of women. Japanese cartoon illustrations served as an inspiration for an artist featured at the Fashion Gallery. The international highlight of this focus on art and fashion was the exhibition at the NRW Forum: the Alexander Mc Queen Catwalk Videos. Nothing but glamour: the "Bunte New Faces Award" brought together the world of the beautiful attracting many celebrities. Düsseldorf saw everything from fashion shows to parties celebrated at a multitude of locations. Not forgetting the CPD DÜSSELDORF exhibitors' party at the open-air Fashion Oasis.