As many as 30 exhibitors from 6 countries displayed at Leatherworld Paris, the global trade fair dedicated to flexible materials, leather and fur for use in leather goods, for footwear, bags, small accessories, detailing on clothes or outerwear. With this February’s show now over, Leatherworld Paris has found its feet and will become a twice-yearly event.
“First test run for a February session. And one that proved conclusive. I have the impression that prime contractors at Leatherworld Paris were looking for a variety of solutions, from materials to finished products, to boost their collections. This abundant offer for fur products is now well assimilated among the solutions sought by visitors, despite this show being for the 2020 summer season,” said Michael Scherpe, president of Messe Frankfurt France, fair organiser.
Leatherworld contributed to the upbeat mood at the Fairyland for Fashion, where visitors were very diligent and exacting in their expectations from the first day onwards. The setting designed by the artistic directors was extremely effective, since it conveyed the atmosphere of a village square where people enjoy coming across each other. It was an event with an international reach where all those involved in the textile industry can be found, from producers of fabrics with a leather look to manufacturers of synthetic materials.
“Strolling along the aisles is pleasant, so visitors tend to spend more time with us,” said Thierry Parverie, manager at Leather Concept Design, a Tunisian leather goods workshop, which was exhibiting its skills with leather. “The show is extremely professional and has proved a good place to launch leather goods.” A resounding success for both lines of bags from young designers chosen by Leather Concept Design, which are supplemented with a collection of jewellery that blends Plexiglas, leather and metal.
The stand attracted large numbers of visitors even more so because, like other firms at the shows who offer traditional skills, the company was included in the new Artisan circuit dedicated to handmade products.
“It was a good show. We were able to make contact with many European and American firms.” For his part, Emel Ozuslu, export director at the Turkish specialist for sheepskin-look products, was delighted to have met “major players from British retailers and the online sector,” Jeff Wong, the commercial director at Changshu Rongxin Wool, a specialist in fake fur, said.
Apart from any seasonal nature, these materials can be used as detailing on flipflops, for example, or as ornamentation; visitors earmarked these for the next winter season. Christopher Sarfati, Ecopel’s CEO, corroborated: “We are very satisfied with the amount of buyers. In addition to some updates for spring, many of our customers have been looking ahead to the next winter season”. The search for products resulting from recycling has been strong: “one of our best sellers is a fur based on fibres from plastics collected at sea. Sustainable development is a strength for us.”
Catwalk shows and presentations on the latest developments provided additional information that can make a visit even more worthwhile. The presentations on ‘Skins and materials: how to respond to end consumers’ new expectations’ shed some light on alternative materials, vegan or otherwise, and emphasised the importance of both the factors of material features and consumer behaviour. The catwalk show that was dedicated to exhibitors’ products opened the programme of events in the catwalk area.
