This means well over 6 percent more participants compared to the last I.L.M Summer Styles one year ago and on top a three-percent rise compared to the I.L.M Winter Styles in March this year, says Arnd Hinrich Kappe, Managing Director of the Messe Offenbach. “We have specifically approached new brands and exhibitors in order to increase the versatility of the fair and at the same time enhance the user value for the buying agents”, says Kappe. The two industry associations, too, the shoe- and leather goods industry and the German leather goods retail trade start the fair with optimism as was communicated by their representatives at the press conference to open the 139th International Leather Goods Fair I.L.M Summer Styles.

A rise in internationalization From the point of view of the Messegesellschaft signs unmistakably point to growth. The number of exhibitors from abroad has increased compared to the I.L.M in September 2012 just as the number of the German exhibitors. In fact the number of the different countries of origin that are represented at the fair has increased from 14 to 20. About 43 percent of the exhibitors come from abroad while Italian and Dutch companies make up for the dominating share by tradition and also in 2013. Both countries send more exhibitors than 2012. The number of Asian suppliers has risen, too. On top there are five countries that for the first time are represented by a company at the Offenbach Fair.

With view to the visitors Kappe assertively states that “the ILM Summer Styles 2013 again will reach the number of visitors of 5,800 of the last ILM”. The exhibition space is somewhat larger than last year and is fully booked. Smaller and final constructive works that still had to be done after opening the new fair hall in March 2013 and additional expansions have been finished on schedule and to the moment of the I.L.M Summer Styles. The 2,000 sqm of additional gross space gained by the alteration and expansions had been used for the first time at the fair in March. A pure trade fair with many international lifestyle- and designer labels The I.L.M as a pure trade fair, which demands previous accreditation, without offering a day for the public is an outstanding opportunity for the international specialized trade to get information about the trends in spring and summer of 2014, to have tranquil business conversations and to place the seasonal orders.

The exhibition program of the I.L.M Summer Styles offers sophisticated quality with an international handwriting and addresses the specialized trade. The exhibits comprise first of all bag collections and the trend collections of small leather goods, travel- and leisure bags, business- and school articles, umbrellas, gloves, belts, and fashion accessories. Represented at the fair are many international lifestyle- and designer labels and young fashion suppliers that are strong in the market. Fashion trends and future projections The I.L.M this year, too, presents the top trends of the current and the upcoming leather goods fashion and by the Fashion Forecast, moreover, anticipates the still further distant future of fashion. The trends of the years to come are presented at the daily fashion shows, at lectures and by the Look-Book and also on large posters displayed at the fashion points.

The market sentiment for the summer 2014 is ultramodern according to our fashion consultant Martin Wuttke of nextguruNow. It is a matter of a new perspective. The reflection of a new clarity and the breaking of familiar rules. The luxurious world of travelling comes up against digital jungle adventures.

More information about this topic is given at the daily trend lectures held by Martin Wuttke at 12.15 p.m. and on Sunday at the Fashion Forecast. The latest bag fashion can be admired at the four Catwalk events every day at 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. A look at the future fashion of Autumn/Winter 2014/2015 is taken by Martin Wuttke and Uta Riechers-Wuttke on Sunday, September 22nd at 4:30 p.m. initiated by the HDSL Federal Association of the Shoe- and Leather Goods Industry. This service supplied by Modeurop enables manufacturers, designers, importers as well as specialist retailers and the press an early insight into the fashion developments and last but not least a longterm strategy.

In order to intensify the pursuit of the coming fashion trends there is apart from the fixed events at the fair a display of the Look-Books at many points. Along the walks, stairs and elevators on the fair grounds large posters at the Fashion Points inform the trade visitors about the trend worlds of the summer 2014.

Conferment of the I.L.M Award

Beside the outlook to the very close and the somewhat more distant leather goods trends the “I.L.M AWARD 2013 – Innovation Prize of the International Leather Goods Fair Offenbach” is one of the big highlights at the fair. Within the frame of a Chill-Out Party on Saturday evening it honors outstanding product design, convincing brand concept, and an impressive first appearance of the exhibitors at the fair. The prize sponsored by the Federal Association of the Shoe- and Leather Goods Industry HDSL and awarded by an expert panel for the three categories Best in Basics, Best in Fashion and Best Newcomer includes prize money of 6,000 Euros. “I have taken over a very well attuned team and a strong fair”, says Kappe, who, for the first time, is fully responsible for the I.L.M Summer Styles. He wants to maintain the attractiveness of the well- established fair popular among the exhibitors and trade visitors and to use this solid base for further developments. Therefore, Kappe and his team plan to modernize the Messe Offenbach cautiously with new ideas in some sections.

ILM, Offenbach
(26/09/2013)