PREMIÈRE VISION PARIS recorded 7.5% growth in visitor numbers

Fabrics and materials are the building blocks of fashion.  And if apparel fabric fairs that cater to influencers in the business of fashion record healthy attendance, it is a positive sign for the industry, which has been marked by a complex and changing global economic environment.

Giant size balloons covered the ceiling of the main Forum at Première Vision Paris to emulate this season's
theme: Cloud of Fashion.

Thus when organisers of Première Vision Paris has reported that attendance to their September show topped the 60,000 visitors mark, it was welcome news for all in the apparel and fashion trade,

The show encompassing textiles, leather, yarns, fabric design, haberdashery and accessories,  knits finished goods and manufacturing.  demonstrated an attendance growth of +7.5%, against +3% more exhibitors this September.

 The number of exhibitors also grew (+3.0% - i.e. 1,954 exhibitors vs. 1,898 in Sept. 2016), due to the addition of  new areas: The Sourcing Connection and the Bag & Shoe Manufacturing sections.

The number of international buyers, coming from 129 different countries, increased by 8.5%, and accounted for a 73% share of the event's visitors. The top five most represented countries were France (+5%) was followed by Italy (+3%), the UK (+4.7%), Spain (+4.6%) and China. Turkey, with 2,845 visitors, overtook both Germany and the USA, while Japan snatched ninth place from Belgium, with 1,791 visitors.

The organisers headed by Gilles Lasbordes, General Manager of Première Vision (in photo at right), acknowledged that the success of this edition attests to the attractiveness and strength of Première Vision Paris, and to the effectiveness of its transversal and creative positioning. The results confirmed the show's status as a strategic vector of differentiation and growth for the industry, as evidenced by the results of the Première Vision Barometer, prepared by the IFM Première Vision Chair and unveiled at a press conference at the start of the fair.

The organisers' ability to bring focus with a full programme of events, exhibitions, conferences and social activities, including a concert on the first evening for visitors to dance and have fun had created a vibrant atmosphere to the fair.

John Malkovich, centre, with members of the PV Awards jury and the winners on the day of prize presentation duringn
the September edition of Première Vision Paris.

One of the key highlights of the September edition of Première Vision Paris was the ceremony for the annual PV Awards, whose jury was headed this year by an international star, the actor-director turned designer John Malkovich.

Gilles Lasbordes, General Manager of Première Vision, also announced the launch in 2018 of the Première Vision marketplace for upstream trade shows specialising in the creative fashion sector, a virtual extension of the event's various different sessions, initially offering access to exhibitor samples. 

Recognising the fact that in an ever more connected and technological world, Première Vision saw the need to position itself to meet future market developments.

"This is a project of a highly technological nature and we want to take advantage of the best solutions on the market, thus we will be using technologies developed buy MIRAKL, the leading French publisher of marketplaces which have conquered the B to C markets by integrating e-commerce sites. This technology offers new business opportunities to professional markets as well," said M. Lasbordes.

The next edition of Première Vision Paris is scheduled on 13th-15th February 2018.
In the mean time, the following events by the show organisers will take place:- Première Vision Istanbul on 18th-20th October, Denim Première Vision in Paris on 14th-15th November, and Première Vision New York on 16th-17th January 2018.

All photos © Lucia Carpio 2017 .