Young Designers’ Trendy Platform presented in Space-Age Design.
Design Attack is reaching for the stars. From 14 to 16 March this unconventional area within the Young Fashion Segment at GDS/GLS – International Event for Shoes, Leather Goods & More – will once again be showcasing 100 selected design newcomers and their trendy collections and lifestyle products beyond the fashion mainstream. Awaiting the international trade audience are independent fashion, urban and streetwear creations in their own fashion galaxy. Under the design and event motto MOONWALK with its space-age styling, neon effects and electronic sounds visitors will enter a futuristic science fiction world.

New exhibitors like Cheapo Footwear from Sweden, the German brand Winibag, Kawasaki Footwear from Denmark, Salty Dog from the Netherlands and many more have already bought their first ticket to the stars. The range includes a colourful mix of shoe labels, bags, accessories, lingerie and lifestyle products. This is already the 8th time the area in Hall 13 has staged its own themed world.

GDS has made it its task to promote talented young designers. “Design Attack is an exciting platform for young labels. In this environment of established brands they can appear as a community, present themselves and make contact with important buyers,” explains GDS/GLS Project Director Kirstin Deutelmoser. After several participations promising young labels are given the option of exhibiting on a larger stand in a pool of around 20 brands to further develop the contacts already made with retail.

Once again in March this unconventional platform will feature unusual hall design. “The futuristic style of the MOONWALK area will stand out significantly from the overall feel of the other halls,” says Eddi Mackowiak, the visionary behind Design Attack. Exhibition stands with half-moon shaped, metallic gantries, illuminated with lighting effects in cool neon blue form the basis for the dance performance shows high above exhibitors’ and visitors’ heads. A walk-on space shuttle in theevent area in the shape of a UFO will become the catwalk. Extravagant looks and new trends will be shown here every day.

DJs will tower over it all from a central platform and provide an unmistakable experience with chilled electronic and trance beats along with numerous lighting effects and wall projections. Visitors wishing to relax after their breathtaking space walk are then invited to kill some time over cosmic and earthly delicacies and delights.

A further highlight at Design Attack is the Design Attack Party on the evening of the first day of the fair – as a get-together for exhibitors in familiar relaxed, and this time spacey, surroundings away from the hustle and bustle of the fair.

Visitors to the Young Fashion segment at GDS benefit from the original blend of aspiring independent labels and established young brands like Ben Sherman, Converse, Replay, Hello Kitty, Fly London, Keds, Evisu Shoos, Kangaroos and Skechers. Featuring for the first time now are the Dutch brand Stacy Adams, Warmbat from Australia and many more.

Design Attack: NEW Labels to watch

Original, sporty shoes are presented by the Swedish label Cheapo Footwear. The current collection consisting of styles in arresting neon colours features a casual cross-over between sneakers and ankle boots. Colourfully patterned lining or striking press-studs make the styles real eye-catchers on the street. Already shortly after its founding in 1997 the brand established itself as one of the best selling Scandinavian labels for fashionable, vulcanised shoes. The famous trademark is the skeleton design on the sole of the shoes. www.cheapo.de

‘Red chili’, ‘blue dog’ and ‘gold fever’ are the names of the extravagant styles by Winibag. Every bag is hand-made, a one-off and clearly set apart from the fashion mainstream. Bag designer Charlotte Lüth combines different materials like velvet, silk and fine upholstery fabrics. From hand and shoulder bags through to little cosmetic bags, they all feature ingenious design details like leather insets, trims and decorative buttons. www.winibag.de .

The Danish label with the Japanese name Kawasaki Footwear caused a real stir in the sporting world in the 70s with its two-tone badminton shoes: the shoes met sporting challenges as well as lightness and grip requirements. Today the trendy bar and clubbing scene would be unthinkable without these low-tech sneakers with their coloured design. The label also makes its contribution to the environment by only using natural materials like cotton, suede and rubber. www.kawasakisko.dk

Also presented for the first time at Design Attack is the Dutch brand Salty Dog. Their comprehensive kids’ shoe collection includes unusual footwear ranging from ‘First Steps’ and slippers right through to trendy boots for children of all ages.www.saltyshoes.com

The next GDS/GLS is from 14th - 16th March 2008

(31/01/200)