Europe’s largest trade fair for global sourcing of textile and clothing opens in Paris

By Charumini de Silva in Paris

Europe’s largest trade fair for global sourcing of textile and clothing, the ‘Fairyland for Fashion’ organised by Messe Frankfurt kicked off on Monday presenting six key trade exhibitions including Apparel Sourcing, Avantex, Leatherworld, Shawls and Scarves, Texworld, Texworld Denim at Paris Le Bourget, France.

A total of 1,166 exhibitors from all parts of the world have gathered to showcase best of their products at this unique exhibitions running till 14 February to seek prospective opportunities, creations, services to expand their footprint around the globe.

The exhibitors are predominantly from China with 744 companies, followed by Turkey with 102 companies and India with 88 firms. Apart from India, there was a strong presence by other South Asian countries such as Bangladesh with 31 companies and Pakistan with 24 companies. 

“The February 2019 session has been particularly advanced in terms of business, virtually all our targets have been met. This is evidence that the globe fashion industries are forging ahead and that international visitors to Texworld remain the major players in the textile and clothing sector. The West cannot afford to disregard this just as our exhibitors cannot ignore Paris’ special position; in terms of quality and diversity of visitors. There follows a selection of new arrivals for each show,” Messe Frankfurt France President Michael Scherpe said.

Texworld Paris is the largest and oldest exhibition among the six trade shows that attracts fashion professionals with its diverse ranges of fabrics from all around the world. The 44th Texworld Paris show replicates its successful and effective concept for operators and brands in the fashion industry with 700 exhibitors.

Texworld Paris is aimed at prime contractors from the fashion industries who are looking for fabrics, accessories, trimmings and expertise in clothing production – a multifaceted offer that corresponds to the needs of the sector both in ready-to-wear and independent designers and stylists. 

For over 20 years, Texworld Paris has remained the showcase for solutions aimed at global fashion industries. The trade fair highlights the great diversity of products from the most basic to the most imaginative, from the best value for money to consummate quality and produced using an enormous variety of materials and techniques.

This season, Texworld Paris has developed a new circuit to celebrate the wealth of the products offered and it aims to highlight the skills involved in hand-crafted work or handmade products. 

The 16th session of the Apparel Sourcing and Shawls and Scarves Paris shows with 350 and 50 exhibitors respectively demonstrates their standing as a the all-important Parisian business events for clothing and textile accessories.

According to Messe Frankfurt data Apparel Sourcing Paris has posted a 17% increase in the number of exhibitors compared to the last edition in February 2018. It brings together companies from entry level to high-end and even made-to-measure and encompasses all of ready-to-wear according to area of expertise in fashion clothing. Shawls and Scarves Paris is the sole international trade fair dedicated exclusively to scarves and shawls continues to forge ahead with its offer which is essential to fashion brands. 

The eighth edition of the Avantex highlights its role as an aggregator for new ideas for fashion. The trade fair aims all areas of fashion offers alongside producers of finished goods, a fresh selection of companies and associations which have been selected for their unwavering future-oriented approach.

Leatherworld Paris is dedicated to flexible materials and extremely technical and are used particularly in certain branches of fashion such as leather goods, footwear, bags, small articles and faux and fur. In this sector, the finished product occupies pride of place and is part of the show which attracts substantial number of retailers and distributors in addition to buyers of materials or heads of production.

This year, 30 specialist exhibitors are attending Leatherworld Paris, dominated by 25 Chinese companies. Texworld Denim held for the fourth time showcases major denim producers and jeans manufacturers. It provides a comprehensive denim range comprising fabrics, clothing production and finished products. A total of 32 exhibitors with a strong participation from South Asian countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan and India. China had the majority of the exhibitors with 16 firms followed by Pakistan with eight companies, Bangladesh with six companies and India with one company. Despite apparel sector being one of the key contributors to Sri Lanka›s economy, not a single firm was featured in this year›s trade shows. However, countries like Bangladesh had national pavilion showcasing around dozen exhibitors that has been organised by the Export Promotion Bureau.

In addition to the trade fair, the Fairyland for Fashion also featured guest speakers, trends conference, panel discussions and catwalks.