Düsseldorf bids farewell to the CPD

After more than 30 years, the final curtain has fallen for the CPD trade show. Düsseldorf’s fashion show which was long considered the largest of its kind in the world, is bidding farewell to the fashion stage, surrendering to the high

number of showrooms in the city of Berlin which is emerging as the new fashion capital in Germany. However, every end also signifies a new beginning.

The organising Igedo Company is bidding its final farewell to the fairgrounds in Düsseldorf and to the name CPD with mixed feelings. The last edition, that took place from 4 till 6 February, welcomed 400 exhibitors and 12,300 visitors. However, compared to the last edition of the tradefair in July 2011, the product range appeared to be more manageable and many booths remained empty. Highlight of this last edition was Turkish designer Ümit Ünal and his new collection “Nameless Birds”. The designer started his career eleven years ago at the first edition of CPD. His latest creations were featured in the catwalk area amongst others by the top models Cole Mohr, Marc Eggers and Keno Eckert-Ludwig.

Katrin Wieschenkämper is one of the exhibitors who were present at the CPD for years with her label Kaethe Maerz. It was important to the Düsseldorf native to show off her collections regularly at home. “Being present is what counts. In the end, this can also be done at any other trade show,” she says. In her opinion, the organisers should have developed a concept years ago, which would have highlighted the show as a platform for alternative, avant-garde and innovative designer brands. Correspondingly, the end of the fair was foreseeable for her. Wieschenkämper is looking forward to the successor named The Gallery. It will be launched in the summer, specialising exclusively in designer-focused as well as modern collections in the fields of avant-garde and accessories and clearly distinguishing itself from the current content of the CPD signatures. The products presented CPD have already been strongly influenced by avant-garde collections for several seasons.

The end of the former main show gives Düsseldorf an opportunity to move forward and strengthen its position as an order centre. With more than 1,000 showrooms (rising tendency), the city is therefore expected to remain the German order centre in the future. Among others, new impulses are generated by the German fashion enterprise Gerry Weber, which has established an attractive centre for 33 showrooms in the new hall 30 on an area covering nearly 14,000 square metres. Toni is one of the companies that also set foot there. The German fashion brand has chosen the new showroom complex as centre for all its European sales and training activities. “Unfortunately, the competence as an international tradeshow has dwindled over the years, and Düsseldorf is now only the most important communication platform for the main retail and industrial suppliers on a national level,” explained CEO Enrico Tomassini. The multifaceted brand environment was an essential factor for him to select this location for his new flagship showroom. While mainly young and exclusive collections are exhibited in Berlin, the main focus in Düsseldorf is on the commercial mainstream of the market.

In the future it will be crucial that everyone involved acts in concert and is present jointly by the order times rather than trying and compete with Berlin. Even if the city is forced to do without the CPD as an institution, the fashion industry is certain to keep earning its money in Düsseldorf.

From our correspondent in Düsseldorf

Foto: CPD/Igedo Company