Trade shows in Paris: 2010 a good year

International competition in terms of fashion and textile products is inducing Paris to show more than ever all the values intimately associated with design that form its identity. As Etienne Cochet, President of Paris Capitale de la Création, emphasises: “It is by means of this subtle, emotional blend of all the richness of our artists, designers and artisans that we will be able in the future to form a definitive unbreakable link between Paris and the values of fashion in the minds of French and international consumers.” After 2009, a year in the depths of a crisis, the exhibitors and visitors to Parisian shows are coming back in force. There was a good atmosphere at the start of this year at the gatherings dedicated to fashion and textile professionals.

Record” event for Who's Next and Première Classe
This duo of shows finished on Tuesday 26th January with a record figure: 49,460 buyers came, showing spectacular growth of 17% compared with January 2009. This event held from 23rd to 26th January was characterised by the large-scale return of foreign buyers to the two Parisian shows. They numbered 17,974 (or 36% of the total attendance), an increase of 30.6% compared with the previous January. French attendance also showed a big increase with +10.5% or 31,486 visitors and 64% of total visitor numbers. European buyers (excluding French) represented the biggest group of visitors to the Who's Next and Première classe shows with 79.1% of foreign attendance at the two shows or 14,224 visitors. Asia is the second best represented continent with 10.7% of foreign attendance and 1,922 buyers or an increase of 12.7%.

Paris, global meeting point for lingerie
A 2010 event was heralded as a sign of regeneration for the Salon International de la Lingerie, with new life breathed into it with a revitalised formula: about 500 brands brought together for 3 days instead of 4 in Pavilions 3 & 4 of the Porte de Versailles. According to the organisers, SIL “more than ever before played the part of a link and engine of an entire sector by designing a coherent and harmonious platform.” 18,808 visitors to SIL (42% French and 58% International) and 11,120 visitors to Interfilière – the raw materials show for lingerie and swimwear – added up to 29,928 attendees. For Daniel Flachaire, CEO, Banana Moon, this event from 23rd to 25th January was marked by “the return of large numbers of both national and international visitors. The need for regeneration was felt and I believe that visitors were happy exploring the aisles ... Practically all the visitors declared themselves satisfied with this show ...” At its opening, the 47th SIL hosted the biggest Pyjama Party in the world, the ambitious Sleepover Party (Loungewear fashion show, sweet buffet and laid-back ambience). This unusual event stimulated the entire branch and gave impetus to a leading sector. “Optimism was in the air once again. We had lots of French and Belgian visitors, more Germans than usual and the return of the Russians. The 3-day formula during the fashion season is definitely a winner,” confirms Francesco Macchi, CEO, Delmar (Italy).

A brilliant 2010 event for Eclat de Mode
Jewellery is having a good time this season. The Eclat de Mode show confirms a recovery in commercial transactions with results showing a very clear increase compared with the previous year. For this event, the show organisers made their services more affordable for exhibitors by offering them small areas of 4m2. In January 2009, the Eclat de Mode show, which was showing the jewellery and accessories collections for summer 2010, recorded 11,299 visits right in the depths of a difficult economic and social context. These figures confirm a clear recovery in intention to buy among the sector’s professionals. The number of visits to the latest event was up by 19.73 % compared with January 2009 and a good result of 13,528 visits was recorded.

Foto 1: Salon Lingerie
Foto 2: Eclat de Mode