Showguide

It's the season for shows. Started this weekend and running through until October, the most important exhibitions for womenswear, menswear and kidswear buyers are just around the corner. With so many collections showing across Europe, planning your seasonal buying has become an art of its own.

From contemporary womenswear labels at the Coterie in Paris, to the GDS footwear shoe fair at GDS in Dusseldorf, to textile scouting at Interstoff in Hong Kong, buyers have their work cut out for them to see the best in ready-to-wear for Spring/Summer 2004.

London Fashion Week continues to attract top buyers from the UK and Japan for its showcasing for creative design. The off-schedule shows from the lesser-known designers are the ones to watch out for, as are the established houses of Burberry, Katharine Hamnett and Roland Mouret.

In a versatile economic climate, buyers are looking for edgy, affordable and commercial craftsmanship, while the press hunts for headline-grabbing glamour and the next big thing.

 

(Don-Alvin Adegeest)