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Impressum

Vol.11  Issue 09/03, 14.09.2011

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Text : Agence187COM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paris TRADE SHOW REPORT SEPTEMBER 2011

WHO'S NEXT - PREMIERE CLASSE - PRÊT-A-PORTER PARIS - MESS AROUND - SIXTY DAYS

 

 

 

 

 

WHO'S NEXT & PREMIERE CLASSE
Both trade shows have ended on a very positive note with a 6% rise in the number of visitors compared with September 2010, i.e. 48,778 buyers. If French customers, especially from the Paris region, have leaped by 11%, the number of foreign buyers (32%) has dropped by 2%, with especially -28.2% for the United States and -33.5% for Germany. Italy, Spain and Belgium are the three most represented countries. Atmosphere wise, all the fashion professionals showed a lot of enthusiasm purchasing their last SS 2012 items. They all praise the clear offer and the quality of the selection.

PRÊT-A-PORTER PARIS
PRET A PORTER PARIS closed its latest edition on a good business atmosphere, after four days of SS 2012 collection presentation. Exhibitors and buyers noted and appreciated the nicely spaced-out and clear space design as well as the very sharp brand selection. With 58 % buyers from France and 42 % from the rest of the world, PRET A PORTER PARIS registers a slight raise in the number of visitors. The 5 most represented foreign countries: Italy, Spain, U.K., Japan and Germany. Also worth noticing: countries from the Middle East and Northern Europe.

MESS AROUND
Although the number of visitors showed a slight drop (4%), the September 2011 MESS AROUND was a success business-wise. "Our sales on MESS AROUND are in constant progress", says OXYGENE's Julien HUMEAU, "For a first time, the result is very promising" confirms SNIPE's Thomas KRESS. With more than 70 new brands, the consistency and relevance of the MESS AROUND areas have drawn the attention of buyers such as Jean Pierre TURRI from Paray-le-Monial: "The MESS AROUND areas are a lot clearer". The fashion lounge, LABOCUIR, Playground, Step by Step and Coming Soon were a real a success. The session was also punctuated with fun parties in a good mood.

SIXTY DAYS
Pre-registration figures spoke for a strong attendance, and indeed more than 3,000 visitors entered hall 3.1. Most exhibitors made the most of this first edition of SIXTY DAYS, the new meeting point initiated by EUROVET and WSN DEVELOPPEMENT. Department stores, boutiques and independent groups showed they still had a budget to place restocking orders for the current season. With an educational approach, the trade show gathering 78 "fast fashion" collections took advantage of a very clear and spaced out selection, featured a trend forum presenting the season's hit products as well as debates organized by the National Federation for Clothing and Boutique de Mode. The organizing team will draw a lesson from this first session so the event matches the changes announced for 2012.

The five trade shows were featuring their last September session before they are all brought together next January, with a unique and common event: WHO'S NEXT Prêt-à-Porter Paris. The very clearly conveyed objective of this first session is to create an international center of attraction to reach 50% international buyers within two years, with the rescheduling of the September trade shows in June starting in 2012. All the professionals seem to look forward to this change!

Upcoming events:
1st session:
Fall-Winter collections: 21-24 January 2012
Spring-Summer collections: 30 June-3 July 2012
2nd session:
Fall-Winter collections: 2-5 March 2012
Spring-Summer collections: 28 September-1st October 2012

 

 

WSN Show S/S 2012

WHO'S NEXT Show

 

 

Preview 2012 : THE NEW FACE OF PARIS FASHION SHOWS

LAST MAY, WSN DEVELOPPEMENT TOOK OVER THE OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT OF ALL THE TRADE SHOWS ORGANIZED BY THE SODES*AND ANNOUNCED THEY HAD TAKEN A 50% SHARE IN THE MESS AROUND SHOW.
THIS NEW SHUFFLING OF THE CARDS WILL BRING GREAT CHANGES TO THE WORLD OF PARISIAN FASHION SHOWS AS SOON AS JANUARY 2012.

ONE GOAL: MAKING OF THE 1ST SESSION AN INTERNATIONAL POLE OF ATTRACTION
A FEW WEEKS AGO, PARIS CONFIRMED IT WAS THE MOST VISITED CITY IN THE WORLD.
For the 1st session ( WHO’S NEXT, PREMIERE CLASSE, PRÊT-A-PORTER PARIS & MESS AROUND ) trade shows, WSN DEVELOPPEMENT wants to obtain the same result as the French capital has achieved for tourism. The goal of the major operator of French fashion shows is to welcome 50% of international buyers within 2 years. Clarity, readability, global approach, unity, coherence, services… From now on, these guiding lines will prevail in all the tasks that will be performed to reach the fixed goal.

THE PILLARS OF A NEW EVENT: WHO’S NEXT PRÊT-A-PORTER PARIS
IN ORDER TO MARK THE BEGINNING OF A NEW ERA WSN DEVELOPPEMENT HAS DECIDED TO THINK "!GLOBAL!" AND TO FOCUS ON A SINGLE EVENT, A SINGLE NAME, THE SAME TEAM AND A COMMON VISION.
Even if it was essential to keep in the name the energy and spirit which have helped build WHO’S NEXT’s reputation since the beginning, it was also essential to capitalize on the international strength and recognition of the name PRÊT-A-PORTER PARIS which is a reference in the world of fashion shows today. From January 2012, WHO’S NEXT PRÊT-A-PORTER speaking now with one voice will offer a unique global fashion selection on 120 000 sqm of exhibition surface, with 2 500 ready-to-wear and accessories brands, including 60% of foreign brands.

A CLEAR SEGMENTATION ENHANCING EACH MARKET
THE NEW ORGANIZATION WILL PROPOSE 6 LARGE FASHION ATMOSPHERES!:
FAME – PRIVATE – MISTER BROWN - PREMIERE CLASSE – LE CUBE – MESS AROUND.
Among them, WHO’S NEXT PRÊT-A-PORTER PARIS will devote a large and unifying space to its core market: women ready-to-wear. Around this pillar, some complementary and attractive sectors such as urban fashion, men, fashion accessories, shoes and leather will aggregate. To enhance this entire offer, WSN DEVELOPPEMENT counts on the development of specific services, adapted to the needs of brands, according to their typology and atmosphere. Thus, catwalk shows, trend forums, styling exercises, theme exhibitions, conferences and evenings, will give a rhythm to each atmosphere. This will have a double goal: inform the professionals and put forward the creativity and added value of each exhibiting brand.

FAME – HALLS 2 & 3
FAME brings the most creative international brands of ready-to-wear women’s clothing together.This exclusive selection is deliberately limited to 200 exhibitors each season and aims to be the compulsory path for retailers and large stores in search of exclusive, top of the range products. The decor is meticulous and elegant and is designed to show the collections in their best light. Renewed selection of the participants enables the event to maintain its leading role in detecting new trends.

PRIVATE – HALLS 2 & 3
PRIVATE welcomes all the international brands of ready-to-wear women’s clothing. Designed as a path of successive stages, buyers discover contemporary and commercial collections grouped together in different areas. The offer is broken down according to essential market segments such as Timeless, Creative, Fantasy and Evening wear. The plurality and the complementarity of the lines are designed to meet the needs of a global market, in search of quality and distinctive products. Fashion focuses, novel exhibitions and information areas are all part of the public’s visit, whilst at the same time informing them of new trends in the future.

MISTER BROWN – HALL 4
More than 300 textile, shoes and accessories brands illustrate two complementary markets!: Men and Urban Fashion.
Men targets a distribution for the 25-35 years old and puts together Sportswear, Urban and Authentic collections. The variety of the offer aims at proposing to the visitors a contemporary vision of men’s urban look.
Urban Fashion targets a distribution for the 15-25 years old, proposing unisex collections of international leaders and young brands in the sectors of Denim, Sport Lifestyle and Streetwear. The buyers will be able to find "THE" product of the season.

PREMIERE CLASSE – HALL 7.1
The international meeting place for creators of fashion accessories at Porte de Versailles is the reference platform for the market and targets ready-to-wear clothing distributors. 600 brands take part each season. 3 large segments make up the trade show’s offer: shoes, jewellery and bags. Collections of hats, scarves, belts, umbrellas and gloves are also included in this offer. The continuous necessity, every 6 months, of proposing a carefully considered selection of creative products with strong sales potential is the key to the success of PREMIERE CLASSE. Event areas, Nomad Lounge or Pop Up, reveal new talents and illustrate the major trends of the future.

LE CUBE – HALL 7.2
The Cube presents the leather goods offer of Porte de Versailles. The repartition of products according to activity sector targets a specialized distribution. This atmosphere promotes leather and luggage by regrouping all the actors of the sector: creators of small leather goods, manufacturers of luggage and travel accessories, and bag brands.

MESS AROUND – HALL 7.2
MESS AROUND is the core of the information and the business of professionals in the footwear market. By bringing together more than 300 brands for women, men and children, MESS AROUND, as a real expert, targets all consumers and meets the needs of the all shoe distributors. The wealth, diversity and qualitative upgrading of the offer, as well as the capacity of the trade fair to promote the know-how and bring together the different players in the profession, contributes to its importance. MESS AROUND also includes MINI MESS, which positions itself as the largest children’s shoe trade fair in Europe.

COMMUNICATION AND MULTIPLICATION OF SERVICES TO STRENGTHEN PARIS ATTRACTIVITY
IN ORDER TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF INTERNATIONAL VISITORS, THE NETWORK OF SALES AND INSTITUTIONAL AGENTS OF PRET-A-PORTER PARIS, COMPLETED AND REINFORCED BY THE TEAM OF FOREIGN COLLABORATORS OF WHO’S NEXT, WILL SET UP A PLANNING OF TARGETED SALES DRIVES, ADAPTED TO EVERY COUNTRY, ALL LONG THE YEAR.
At Porte de Versailles, everything has been thought through to reinforce and improve the quality of welcome and messages!: a single entrance and entrance fee, a single access badge and common information documents, permanent shuttle services and concierge, a welcome pack from the station or the airport ...

THE NEW CALENDAR IN 1ST SESSION
WINTER COLLECTIONS : 21-24 JANUARY 2012 / SUMMER COLLECTIONS : 30 JUNE – 3 JULY 2012
FOR MORE THAN 10 YEARS, THE QUESTION OF CALENDAR HAS BEEN REGULARLY BROUGHT FORWARD. AND NOT WITHOUT REASON!: FASHION SEASONS ARE MOVING FORWARD!!
From the raw materials trade shows to the fashion weeks, the events are organized earlier and earlier. Rejected several times for lack of consensus, the date of the end of June / beginning of July will finally take all its meaning as soon as 2012 and allow the trade shows at Porte de Versailles to position themselves as the 1st buying event for the spring-summer collections. As it is a good time for foreign buyers, this new date will also aim at expanding the international recognition of WHO’S NEXT PRÊT-A-PORTER, and be complementary with the men fashion showrooms being held in the capital at the same time. Even if WSN DEVELOPPEMENT teams are aware the changes may be inconvenient at the beginning, they must however anchor WHO’S WHO’S NEXT PRÊT-A-PORTER in a long term vision and accompany the brands during more favorable periods for their business expansion.

2 BIG EVENTS DURING THE 2ND SESSION
WINTER COLLECTIONS : 2-5 MARCH 2012 / SUMMER COLLECTIONS : 28 SEPTEMBER – 1ST OCTOBER 2012

AS SOON AS MARCH 2012, THE 2 ND SESSION OF THE PARISIAN TRADE SHOWS WILL REVOLVE AROUND 2 EVENTS WITH EVOCATIVE NAMES: FAME ET PREMIERE CLASSE.
FAME will be an Event in itself during the 2nd session, as it will become the indispensable showroom of women high-range creative ready-to-wear. As it benefits from a good image abroad, it seemed obvious to offer FAME a platform that was worthy of its reputation, during the Fashion Week, in the heart of Jardin des Tuileries. Beside it, the 2nd session of PREMIERE CLASSE, the undisputed leader on the market of fashion accessories for more than 20 years, will continue to count on a sharp selection of the 350 most creative designers of fashion accessories worldwide. The goal of WSN DEVELOPPEMENT is to maintain a high level of selection during the 2nd session and to bring the brands with a high potential to work on their image during that period to meet a public of highly qualified and experienced buyers. On the other hand, the business aspect will be privileged during the 1st session, at Porte de Versailles.

NEW TEAMS, NEW ORGANIZATION CHART
BRINGING TOGETHER THE TWO STRUCTURES HAS LED 10 EMPLOYEES OF THE SODES TO JOIN THE WSN DEVELOPPEMENT TEAMS, ESPECIALLY IN THE SALES FORCE. THUS, THE TOTAL STAFF NOW AMOUNTS TO ALMOST 50.
Like in the former business organization of WSN DEVELOPPEMENT, the teams are divided in three poles!: women/ men-urban / accessories, respectively managed by Sophie Guyot, Luc Biermé et Sylvie Pourrat, under the supervision of two general commissioners of the trade shows, associated in WSN DEVELOPPEMENT, Bertrand Foäche and Xavier Clergerie.
Communication and international development will stay in the hands of Boris Provost.
It is important to precise that even if the Federation of Women Ready-To-Wear (Fédération du prêt-à-porter féminin) disappears completely from the organization of the trade shows, WSN DEVELOPPEMENT will use its expertise when international issues are at stake.
The Federation will thus find again its primary function, which is to promote the sector, accompany and help French brands in their expansion.

 

 

 

 

Latest News, Collections and
Fashion Trend Information see Title-Page

To the general Fashion Fairs Calendar 2011
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