“I am more than delighted to welcome this new Leatherworld Paris show into the cluster of trade fairs under the Messe Frankfurt France umbrella. In making leather the overall theme, something totally new for us, we are covering a fresh segment of fashion and accessories. I would like Leatherworld to be viewed as a story of materials: leather, of course, and its versions in synthetic leather for example, but also flexible materials including fake fur and even, with an eye to the future, vegan leather or other sources that are essential for the fashion industry. With an increased focus on finished products, I want to offer our visitors a wide variety of choices for accessorising their collections and provide ranges that retailers are seeking”
The answer to a real demand
New synthetic materials with a leather effect have appeared in the interior furnishings, automotive and fashion sectors. They offer properties that leather to date did not provide: waterproof qualities, affordable price, etc. These criteria are now becoming essential in order to respond to the global growth in consumption. A lack of supply and the high cost of genuine leather have driven the demand for imitation leather over the last decades, without forgetting the wish of some ready-to-wear brands to avoid using materials of animal origin, even entirely “fur-free”. With Leatherworld Paris, Messe Frankfurt France intends to open things up to equivalent flexible materials, such as fake fur, the quality and technical properties of which have improved considerably to the point of providing competition for genuine fur. This inclusion in Leatherworld has succeeded since clothing manufacturers in this segment have shown a tremendous response and are very eager to attend the show. Leather and associated materials, especially those used for accessories, or often extensively for clothing, are grouped here all in one area, simplifying searches by prime contractors, who are buying for clothing collections, accessories and luggage destined for fashion labels and retailers.
Showcase of the international expertise
Whether it is a question of tanneries/taweries, small leather goods, gloves or footwear, the foremost supplier to France and Germany remains China, which forms the main body of the products at Leatherworld, particularly for fake fur. Ecopel from Shanghai, the major supplier for fake fur and imitation leather, will also be attending with its French representative. The Pakistani leather industry, with which prime contractors are very familiar, will also be represented by two firms with proven skills. We also note a range of leather goods from Lebanon, demonstrating skilled craftsmanship, in addition to three specialist leather firms from Turkey. Keeping to its strategy that is unwavering in its orientation towards trade visitors, Messe Frankfurt France organises a series of lectures on the latest happenings in the industry. A trends forum and a catwalk show combining leather clothing and accessories will round off this new offering.
All details about textile trade shows organised by Messe Frankfurt throughout the world can be found at the new platform: www.texpertisenetwork.messefrankfurt.com
Background information on Messe Frankfurt
Messe Frankfurt is the world’s largest trade fair, congress and event organiser with its own exhibition grounds. With more than 2,400 employees at 30 locations, the company generates annual sales of around €669 million. Thanks to its far-reaching ties with the relevant sectors and to its international sales network, the Group looks after the business interests of its customers effectively. A comprehensive range of services – both onsite and online – ensures that customers worldwide enjoy consistently high quality and flexibility when planning, organising and running their events. The wide range of services includes renting exhibition grounds, trade fair construction and marketing, personnel and food services. With its headquarters in Frankfurt am Main, the company is owned by the City of Frankfurt (60 percent) and the State of Hesse (40 percent).
For further details, visit: www.messefrankfurt.com | www.congressfrankfurt.de | www.festhalle.de
Press officers: RE ACTIVE – Frédéric Pellerin – fpellerin@re-active.fr & Dimitry Helman – dimitry@re-active.fr – +33 1 40 22 63 19
Messe Frankfurt France – Cassandra Galli – cassandra.galli@france.messefrankfurt.com - +33 1 55 26 61 39
Downloads
- Press release (pdf, 198 KB)