Première Vision Paris, the leading international show for fashion fabrics and textile sourcing marked its 50th anniversary earlier this month with its event at Paris-Nord Villepinte Parc des Expositions. The trade fair is the benchmark gathering for the fashion industry and the trends that drive the style of the future. Although France was experiencing heightened social unrest and violence had spilled on the streets, many countries including the UK had issued travel advisories. However, the event was a success as it witnessed a 7 per cent increase in visitors compared to July 2022. Meanwhile, rival exhibition, Texworld Evolution Paris which celebrated its 25th year held its July edition at a new venue - Porte de Versailles. The management revealed its future editions will also take place at the south of Paris exhibition center.
Diverse visitor profiles
Première Vision hosted 25,117 visitors, 70 per cent of whom were from outside France and 1,315 exhibitors, up 10 per cent versus the previous July exhibition. Speaking with a reputable fashion business title, Gilles Lasbordes, director of Première Vision said the July 2023 edition confirmed the progressive return of professionals from Asia, particularly China.
The three-day exhibition Texworld Evolution Paris July 2023 edition welcomed 6,800 visitors, a large number being from China, no surprises there as China represents 32 per cent of the European Union’s clothing imports. While exhibitors put a quiet third day at Texworld down to the unrest across France, UK buying teams seemed unaware there had been UK government travel advice on monitoring the media for disruption in the country.
Australian Paul Burden, Head of Design, Politix said he was shopping at Texworld for menswear fabrics for Country Road group, one of the largest specialty Australian retailers. As per him, drapery and tailoring fabrics at Chinese supplier Langyitex were among his favorites. Similarly, UK-buyer for Wealth Industrial, Julia Hesketh was pleased she was able to attend this edition of Texworld and had found everything she was looking for. She lauded the collection of fabrics that Korean suppliers had displayed.
Interesting paradoxes revealed
During the time the two mega exhibitions were being hosted in Paris, Vincent Gregoire, Director Consumer Trends and Insights at Nelly Rodi, a consulting agency, made some interesting observations on the way consumers were realigning their attitudes. Clearly a paradox, as these exhibitions promote the growth of fashion sector through newer items to attract consumption. Gregoire identified a social trend, particularly in France which he termed as de-growth and cited the civil unrest as an example where rich spenders were no longer the aspiration but the subject of hate. The other paradox he pointed out was in a world that is constantly getting standardized with the likes of Zara, IKEA and AirBnB, there is chatter in France about local self-dependence that is authentic, locally produced and productive for its population like the “15 minute city concept.”
Sustainability takes centre stage
As sustainability is the number one point of focus for manufacturing sectors across the spectrum, the textile and apparel sector is not different. Première Vision introduced the Better Way programme at this edition by analyzing the sustainability initiatives of 290 of its participating exhibitors and put up easy-to-comprehend pictograms at their exhibits for visitors to navigate and find the sustainable products they were looking for. US-based Repreve, which claims to have transformed 35 billion plastic bottles into recycled polyester fabrics, noted the brand is rolling out its textile take-back schemes and keeping a close eye on European legislation for textiles. This dead-stock rollover was a first at Première Vision.
As these trade shows demonstrate, it is heartening to see manufacturers and buyers are aligning themselves to deliver what today’s conscious consumers want in terms of affordability, longevity and sustainability.
