The European market remains very attractive for the CTAF

At the 5th ApparelSourcing Paris, 198 exhibitors from 15 countries in Asia, the Mediterranean countries, Europe and the Indian Ocean made this 5th session a major rendezvous for sourcing ready-to-wear and accessories for the European market. The trade fair closed its doors on an enthusiastic note on the part of exhibitors, who were delighted to have met German, Scandinavian, British, Italian, French and Dutch buyers, to name but a few. Together with Texworld, that recorded 845 exhibitors from 27 countries, these two fairs rolled out a myriad offer to a total of 14,420 trade visitors from 104 countries that attended the over the four days of the fairs from 16 to 19 September.

“Texworld and ApparelSourcing create a dynamic environment which gives the textiles and clothing sector in Europe a sense of buoyancy and enhances the offer in Paris, making it more international. Taking this proactive role, the two shows are an inspiration,” stresses Olaf Schmidt, Vice President of Textiles & Textile Technologies at Messe Frankfurt.

Serap Kolabas, sales director at Theorie, a Turkish manufacturer of high-end men’s outwear expresses her satisfaction: “An interesting show! This is the second time we’ve been to ApparelSourcing Paris and we’ve met countless high-end companies from Europe, which was our goal in attending the trade fair, very rewarding!” These feelings were shared by Hana Huang, director of Sichuan Golden Flute Fashion, a manufacturer of quilted outerwear who “had an excellent experience at the show.”

The trade fair provides contractors and brand owners every opportunity for planning their collections using proximity sourcing from Europe and the Mediterranean countries, medium-term sourcing from the Indian Ocean and long-term sourcing from Asia.

“Just two years after its launch, ApparelSourcing Paris has succeeded in grouping all the offers for proximity or long-distance sourcing and in attracting numbers of quality visitors. Where the products are concerned, we are working on augmenting ranges, such as those for accessories, which are very much in demand from buyers,” explains Michael Scherpe, President of Messe Frankfurt France.

The wealth of product lines covers all of women’s, men’s and children’s ready-to-wear in addition to accessories. Every range, from entry level to premium category, can be found, anticipating the expectations of buyers, of those responsible for product development, heads of production and designers. All the exhibitors are professionals who are accustomed to working for the European and American markets. Buyers have a wide choice of relevant collections and a wealth of services on offer, from the more standard like the CMT all the way to the development of products.

-Priority for near sourcing

The fashion cycle is speeding up: closer and more responsive are the bywords. Portugal and Turkey top the list of the countries in demand. They were able to attract companies with their extensive expertise: dresses and blouses, knitwear, long-sleeved tops, denim, shirting, outer wear and corporate wear.

Portugal has focussed on its experience in women’s wear with dress-making and knitwear at Tetribérica and woven trousers at Crivedi Vestuario, a specialist for sophisticated dyeing. Taking developments in the menswear market into consideration, Turkey offered mid-range to high-end outerwear and long-sleeved tops from the manufacturers Theorie and JCPozitif. When it comes to womenswear, Createx Textile manufactures all types of dresses and blouses or trousers.

- North Africa: an option for denim and sportswear

Represented by five exhibitors, with two from Tunisia and three from Egypt, North Africa remains a special partner for Europe for nearby sourcing of mid-range items, as they have the expertise in denim and unisex sportswear. Olatex, an exhibitor from Turkey, is proud of its 30 years’ experience with European denim companies; Nounou Bros, an Egyptian sportswear manufacturer sets standards as a very stable business and with its articles in 100% Egyptian cotton. The two companies are attending for the second time.

- Attraction of the Indian Ocean for medium-term sourcing

Before the rush to China, Mauritius was a major destination for Europe to source knitwear, casual wear and denim. With the reshuffle in global sourcing, it is once again at centre stage with ranges that concentrate on knitwear and denim. Nine firms, several of which, like Palmar Knits and Craft Aid Mauritius, have become a point of reference for buyers promoting ‘Mauritius Made with Care’ and extolling the quality, good responsiveness and security.

- Nigeria, a new destination for sourcing?

Named as one of the potential countries for sourcing in Africa, with its designers, who are just buzzing with creativity and Chinese investment in manufacturing, Nigeria wants to export! For the first time, the trade fair welcomes a Nigerian exhibitor, Lengendary Gold Limited, which tempts European buyers with its ready-to-wear collections and accessories such as an iPad case in captivating prints. Extremely trendy.

- Asia apart from China: a target for companies

Sourcing professionals and the international press are watching for the slightest movement in Asian product ranges since China started concentrating on its domestic market. Its neighbouring countries have indeed benefitted from the shift of orders, in particular for womenswear, and they are doing their utmost to offer contractors collections to meet requirements, attractive services and, above all, security.

Apparel Sourcing Paris drew 49 exhibitors from Bangladesh, Hong Kong, India, Pakistan, Taiwan and Vietnam attended the trade fair this time. India, with 28 exhibitors, is the main country from Asia at the fair, not counting China, followed by Pakistan and Bangladesh with 10 and 9 exhibitors respectively. Their offer covers all the collections in ready-to-wear and accessories, apart from suiting and outerwear.

The ranges of accessories from India, especially scarves and shawls, earns it pride of place for markets of all product ranges, showing collections where Indian craftspeople demonstrate their best skills with costly materials like silk, cashmere or blends of these two fabrics. Entry level and midrange see a myriad of shawls in cotton, wool or blends like cotton/polyester for basic items, offered by manufacturers who have attended the trade fair since the start, such as Ahujasons Shawl Wale, Bright Star, Jain Shawls and Royal Touch Overseas. “The trend for prints is lasting but that for fine materials with special finishing is becoming evident in the demand from buyers,” says Sanjay Churiwalla from Treza Exim.

Bangladesh and Pakistan, boosted by their expertise in trousers of woven fabrics, offered collections of chinos in vivid shades, like those at Tex Dhaka; jeans with innovative finishes and cuts at Artistic Apparel from Pakistan. Hong Kong is developing a mixed range of articles, with a focus of nearly 70% in womenswear collections, that are both fashionable and in the medium range, like Varieta with its elaborate unisex knitwear. Taiwan is taking its inspiration from Hong Kong’s success and supplying a similar offer.  

The European market remains very attractive for the CTAF

This 10th session for CTAF, the Chinese pavilion organised by the CCPIT-Tex was comprised of 112 exhibitors, showing a 24.44% increase compared with September 2012. An increase “which attests to China’s interest in exporting to Europe, even when faced with the very strong demand in its domestic market,” explains Lin Yuifeng, vice-president of CCPIT-Tex, during the press conference for the exhibition.

They aim to win over the European market with quality and variety for menswear, womenswear, accessories and children’s wear. Producers supply mostly mid to high-end ranges for womenswear, accessories and children’s wear. The desire to attract labels and buyers for premium category menswear in suiting is obvious, with producers like Ningbo Modiland Fashions, Dalian Faric Garment Enterprises and Beijing Fanmei Garments who already supply European designer labels. Knits are also appealing to buyers of quality products with a luxurious range in 100% cashmere like that at Dongsheng Cashmere.

The next Apparelsourcing Paris will take place from Monday 17 to Thursday 20 February 2014, at Le Bourget, Paris.

For information on all Messe Frankfurt textile fairs worldwide, please visit: www.texpertise-network.com