One of the highlights of the upcoming GDS – International Event for Shoes & Accessories, from 13 through 15 March 2009, is the 10th edition of Design Attack. With Queen Alpin, visitors and exhibitors experience London as a firstclass ski location in the Alps. This season Design Attack again provides a contact and business platform for 100 young national and international designers with unique collections... 

For the first time this season, brands such as Abteil will be exhibiting with their bag collection made of original materials, such as new and recycled air mattresses or mailbags, or Belana Ric Batu with handmade, individually designed trinkets for every occasion, as well as the artistic bags by Dubay Design featuring abstract or nature-inspired motifs. The newcomers present their trendy collections for the autumn/winter season 2009/2010 in hall 3, along with established, consumeroriented lifestyle and fashion labels in the "urban fresh" and "urban active" sectors, such as Skechers, Kangaroos, Bruno Banani, Tatonka and Chiemsee. 

"Design Attack has been very successful for ten seasons as an independent area within the Young Fashion segment—one cannot imagine GDS without it. With Design Attack, we have created a professional presentation forum and carem springboard for young creative talent. Many former Design Attack participants have been able to establish themselves on the market and now exhibit in our premium areas, such as urban authentic or white cubes," explains GDS Director, Kirstin Deutelmoser. Since September 2004 a new design and event-oriented theme world emerges in the trend area. Unusual booth design along with music and dance performances transform the event into an absolute highlight.

The anniversary edition of Design Attack, under the motto Queen Alpin, stages London as a British-Alpine metropolis and represents globalised youth culture in this wild combination. Set pieces in various styles combine to create a Unixe identity. The theme reflects the fascinating contrasts of the metropolis: London lives from the tension between tradition and modern; between the royals and the shrill nightclub scene. Music and fashion trends are born here and at Design Attack. The design of the space consists of a winning combination of Alpine panorama and British city atmosphere. Big Ben, red telephone booths, red double-decker busses and the famous black London taxis in between mountain slopes and glaciers bring the flair of the British trend metropolis to the Düsseldorf fairgrounds. The booths are designed as rustic chalets.

"Many young designers have no idea how the industry works. Design Attack is a very important jump-start for them. Here they can meet international buyers, make new contacts, share experiences with colleagues, and have fun doing it," according to conceiver, Eddi Mackowiak. The entertainment factor is being given extra attention for the anniversary edition: A seven-metre high slide runs from the mountains directly to the marketplace in the valley that forms the hub of the area. The highlight is the Queen Alpin party on the first trade fair evening.

Next GDS takes place in Düsseldorf from the 13th till the 15th of March 2009