Première Vision Paris reported more than 53,150 trade visitors - a solid attendance yet impacted by market concerns over Brexit

Politics and economic uncertainties can often influence business decisions and it is the case with  concerns over Brexit (Great Britain leaving the EU) that seem to have impacted on the Première Vision Paris group of trade shows which saw a slight dip in visitor numbers this February according to the organisers.

Photos at Première Vision Paris February 12 - 14 February 2019 © Lucia Carpio 2019

While the fair recorded a healthy attendance of 53,156 visitors from 127 countries at its latest edition held 12 – 14 February at the Parc des Expositions in Villepinte, north of Paris, Première Vision Paris saw a slight decline of 2.3% in visitors when compared to its February 2018 edition.

Organisers said the fair's 70%-international attendance is particularly notable for its high quality, demonstrating the show's robustness in the face of strong political and economic uncertainties in world markets and illustrated the strength of its leadership and influence on the global creative fashion industry.

This impressive performance was nonetheless marked by a slight decline in visitor numbers (-2.3% vs. February 2018), a direct consequence of the market's jitteriness in light  of the impending exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union. British fashion brands and buyers are playing it safe as Brexit edges closer, solidifying fears and slowing down decision-making.

Organisers reported that there was a significant 16% decline in British visitors, which alone accounts for two thirds of the decline in attendance at the show.

The Top 5 visiting countries remain unchanged in comparison with February 2018. China enters the top 10 in 9th place, Belgium moves from 10th to 8th place, and Japan moves down a place, dropping to 10th place in the ranking.




Some 76% of the visitors to Première Vision Paris were European led by France with nearly 16,000 visitors, which recorded a slight increase (+1%), and held steady despite a still fragile internal economic environment.  This demonstrates the indispensable nature of the show for French brands,
which are among the most important in the sector, according to the organisers.

In second place, Italy sent 5,985 visitors (11% of attendees), followed by the United Kingdom which,
with 4,466 visitors (8% of attendees), maintains its 3rd position despite a significant decline in its visitor base (-16%), due to uncertainty over Brexit.
This trio is followed by Spain (3,215 visitors), Germany (1,828 visitors, 3% of the total), and Belgium (1,478 visitors).

Some 9.5% of professional visitors came from Asia with an increase of 8%, buoyed by China which enters 9th place in the top 10 with 1,451 visitors. Next comes Japan, a leading buyer of fashion and creative textiles, with 1,421 attendees, and South Korea, a market for innovative and creative fashion, with 883 visitors.
Visitors from North America also registered a rise in attendance with over 1 996 visiteurs.
The United States posted a +6% increase in visitors, with 1,695 attendees, followed by Canada with 300 visitors.
Turkey maintained its ranking as the 5th visitor-country with 2,689 visitors, which was however a 6% drop, a reflection on the country's economic and political instability.

With 1,782 international exhibitors providing a wide range of textile, fashion, haberdashery accessories and designs, Première Vision is the industry valuable catalyst for the creative fashion and textile and materials sectors throughout the three-day show, that catered for the spring summer 2020 season.
The next edition of Première Vision Paris will take place 17, 18 & 19 September 2019.
Photos at Première Vision Paris 12-14 February 2019 © Lucia Carpio 2019.