This month, Paris hosted the Texworld and Apparel Sourcing trade shows, which attracted roughly 8,000 visitors from 25 countries who met with 1,300 weaving and clothing companies.
In response to changes in the market, Messe Frankfurt France adapted its strategy and rebranded Texworld Evolution Paris to Texworld Apparel Sourcing Paris. This reflected the growing trend in fashion sourcing, where buyers want to select materials and source finished products directly to complement their collections or expand their range.
The top five buyers were from France, the UK, Italy, Turkey, and Spain, signifying the importance of European markets for the global fashion industry.
Oracle Textile Technology from China highlighted the new colour and appearance ranges of its nylon spandex or seamless fabrics for down jackets and outdoor clothing collections.
Liberty Mills from Pakistan presented its new cotton ranges to British, French, and Canadian retail customers. Indian womenswear manufacturer BP Impex found an opportunity to meet with French, English, Dutch, and Spanish brands and distributors.
"Despite the slowdown in the clothing market, Europe remains a major market for textile and finished goods manufacturers", said Frédéric Bougeard, President of Messe Frankfurt France.
"For some players, it is becoming a strategic market to offset the uncertainties weighing on the Russian and American markets. Our mission is to fulfil our role as a marketplace, to adapt to these changes and to make the international offer more and more accessible."
Nine Ukrainian companies were grouped under the Ukrainian Association of Textile and Leather Industry Companies (Ukrlegprom).
Bulgarian, Italian and Dutch companies were able to take advantage of the show's visibility to include their expertise in the sourcing plans of French and European buyers.
The next edition of Texworld Apparel Sourcing Paris, which includes Avantex and Leatherworld, will be held this July in Hall 7 (7.2 and 7.3) of the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles.
The show will offer a more selective range of products, reflecting the convergence between textiles and finished products.
