With consolidated growth in attendance figures – a 5.5% rise vs February 2013-, and a strong increase in business activity, the six-show ensemble once again confirmed the consistency of its leadership and the strength of its outreach and appeal to leading players in the fashion industry.

72% international, the 61,641 visitors -buyers, stylists, designers for fashion and accessories brands, and heads of fashion companies-, looking for inspiration, creativity and innovation, came to discover a rich and complementary offer proposed by some 1772 exhibitors -spinners, weavers, trim manufacturers, design studios, tanners, fashion manufacturers- from many various countries, representing a diversity of cultures and fashions.

Acclaimed by the world’s largest markets, Premiere Vision Pluriel is a highly effective and coherent tool with a rich and unique aesthetic vision. It stands out as a trusted value for bolder, more active and ever more demanding professionals in a global economic context showing continued signs of instability and fragility.

CUIR A PARIS REGISTERS A MARKED INCREASE: VISITORS +33.1%, EXHIBITORS +11.6%, STAND SURFACE AREA +24.9% growing sector. As proved by the fact that although prices keep climbing, this does not discourage buyers from the apparently indestructible luxury sector. Although the show remains very French and European in focus (+32.3% vs. Feb.13), visitors from countries far and wide come to seek out from our 375 exhibitors what they know to be the most beautiful leather in the world.

All the exhibitors surveyed appreciated the quality of the visitors they met, which remained very high. Leading labels, style agencies, development offices and promising designers, from the four corners of the globe (+42,5% vs. Fev.13), formed a varied and abundant presence. Those interviewed felt that Italy (+47% vs. Feb.13), France (+21% vs. Feb.13) and the United States (+31.8 vs. Feb.13) were the most assiduous countries. They were followed by Great Britain (+36.6% vs. Feb. 13), Spain (+32% vs. Feb 13) Germany (+37.8% vs. Feb.13) and Belgium (+61.9% vs. Feb 13), all of whom were apparently very dynamic. Asian countries seemed less present this season, despite an increase from loyal Japan (+15.8% vs. Feb 13) and Korea (+24.1% vs. Feb.13). There were also visitors from northern climes, both Scandinavia and Holland. The presence of Russians, Canadians, Australians, Brazilians, Indonesians, Chinese, Turks, Moroccans and even some Qataris illustrated the show’s increasing global reach and helped to boost the atmosphere even further at the event.

THE EDITION’S BEST-SELLERS THE HITS

The premium and luxury positioning of CUIR A PARIS inevitably leads to visitors favouring beautiful classic items synonymous with quality. For all species of leather, aniline and semi-aniline finishes remain the benchmark. And softness proves to be the key for a growing number of articles. Lambs leather - even stretch - has to be nappa, calf leather obviously has to be dipped, whilst goat leather should as far as possible be boarded. The fullness is rounded and they are silky to the touch. But suede and nubuck finishes on lamb, goat or calf won over visitors, providing they adopted bright summer shades. Mechanical grains were particularly appreciated on the large bull and cow leathers. Matt or semi-matt aspects took precedence over shiny finishes. But patent bovine leathers still had their fans, as did printed ponyskin and a wide variety of embossed patterns. Flocked calf leather from Benericetti also caught the eye of professionals, even though they are hardened to the novelties of fashion. “Cracked lambskins are still popular,” Sandro Fedi from Fedi Silvano tannery told us, “as are leathers pasted on textiles and ovine leathers covered with a metallic film.»

Exotic leathers are even more popular with professionals from the big labels, looking for both rarity and visibility. Soft and supple leather is important for them too, as is a matt finish. Whilst colour, whether a block colour or a palette of shades, is increasingly present in their wild universe. On the textiles side, two opposing trends stood out in the requests from visitors to our specialist exhibitors.

On the one hand, natural fibres like cotton and linen, enhanced by natural shades, confirm their summer dominance. On the other hand, technical nylons, whether washed or in partnership with other materials, illustrate the influence of technical sport in current fashion trends.

© Degermann © Italretilli

COLOURS Three main palettes structure the colours of summer 2015. The first confirms the classic shades - black, brown, navy, claret, charcoal grey, beige and ivory – as the leading pack of sure-fire values. However, a number of exhibitors noted a slight decrease in demand for black, which was less systematically chosen by buyers. A second palette of bright colours, from hard blue to poppy red, via candy pink, buttercup yellow, aniseed green, turquoise and even purple, demonstrate the ongoing penchant for high-energy colours from designers. A third route was made up of sugary pastels, like mint green, pale pink, chick yellow, pearly grey and coral, bringing a touch of freshness and fashion but not degenerating into insipidness.

Next edition:
16-18 september 2014 For its 27th edition, the show will be held at the same time as the Premiere Vision, Modamont, Indigo, Expofil et Zoom by Fatex shows.

(27/02/2014)