Frankfurt, Germany – Inspiring fashion, exciting industry issues and high levels of interest from visitors: after three eventful days, the Green showroom and Ethical Fashion Show Berlin have reached their successful conclusion. ‘On all three days of the trade fair, we observed increased numbers of visitors and greater commercial interest in our exhibitors’, says Olaf Schmidt, Vice President Textiles & Textile Technologies at Messe Frankfurt. ‘Conventional retailers in particular are increasingly using our trade fairs as a platform to expand their product ranges with eco fashion’. With full halls and the record-breaking participation of 166 international labels, the trade fair duo once again won visitors over as an attractive hub for fairly produced and environmentally friendly fashion during Berlin Fashion Week and functioned as a unique European expert center for current sustainability issues and trends.
Conventional retailers enjoy intensive discussions with participating labels
Fashion shows captivate buyers and celebrities alike
39 international high fashion labels presented their new products at Green showroom. The designers inspired with their classic tailoring and high-quality materials. Striking cuts, smart designs and timeless outfits dominated the collections for autumn/winter 2016/17. Alina Schürfeld from the shoe label Alina Schuerfeld spoke of her all-round satisfaction:
‘It was brilliant! I had an unbelievable amount of fun in the open and inviting atmosphere of Green showroom where numerous exciting labels gather. We made some very good contacts here. Buyers were broad ranging and the press a constant presence. I’ll definitely be coming back’.
At the same time, the Ethical Fashion Show Berlin appealed with its 127 labels and a broad spectrum of urban fashion culture. Clothes for men were once again on offer. The clothes racks included casual styles with influences from the 1970s and 90s. Mette Morup from Knowledge Cotton Apparel gave a positive summary of her trade fair debut: ‘We are very happy. Our stand had lots of visitors every day and the quality of the contacts was high. The majority of visitors are already well informed about the topic of eco-fair fashion. This meant we had some really interesting discussions with the press and buyers’.
Conventional retailers recognize the potential
An increased number of conventional retailers gained an overview of the numerous new products in the collections with a view to expanding sustainably produced segments on their sales floors. Numerous dealers also attended the podium discussion “Eco-fashion on the floor” on the first day of the trade fair and tackled the issue of how conventional retailers can integrate green fashion in their product ranges. Purchasing teams from numerous companies were present, including: Asos,
Manufactum, Textilhaus Ramelow in Elmshorn, Modehaus Hempel in Wolfsburg, Modehaus Wellner in Hameln, Textilhaus Kressmann in Hildesheim and Modehaus Weingarten in Köln. Purchasers from Modehaus Rudnick in Aurich also visited the trade fair and had positive things to say about the exhibitors’ offers: ‘We were able to make initial contact with eco fashion labels and can envision ourselves expanding our product range with an eco segment’.
“Salonshow”: high fashion meets the zeitgeist
At the “Salonshow”, important guests from the worlds of fashion, business, politics, film and television experienced a catwalk show extraordinaire on the afternoon of the first day of the trade fair. Selected designers presented their new collections and showcased more than 70 new contemporary high fashion looks. ‘The Salonshow gives a succinct overview of the range available at the trade fair. For us as exhibitors, the fashion show is very important in helping us present ourselves in this
setting in an eye-catching way’, says Constanze Janusch, designer of WalkBoxx/SilkBoxx. Outfits by Altai Cashmere, Austriandesign.at, Ayurganic, Blue Sky Cashmere, Bodios Yak & Cashmere, Carpasus, Elementum by Daniela Pais, Esmod Berlin, Gobi Organic by Sarazul Cashmere, Inti Ferreira, JM Jinst Murun, Kate, Lanius, Mongol Textile, Somyso, Studio Elsien Gringhuis, Studio Jux, Uujin, Xess + Baba and Zora Heinicke were also on display.
“Ethical Fashion on Stage”: strong performance in the casual segment
Part two of the catwalk programme also appealed with its first-rate standards: “Ethical Fashion on Stage” inspired with a cross-section of street and casualwear collections that were well worth seeing. 51 outfits by international exhibitors at the Ethical Fashion Show Berlin were very well received. ‘For us, it is a highlight to present some of our collection at the fashion show. This is where labels, buyers and media representatives come together’, says Reet Aus from the label of the same name. Also on the catwalk were Daily’s Nothings Better, De ́qua, Diamond Army, Early Fish, Feuervogl, Format, Get Lazy, Göttin des Glücks, Inheels, L ́Herbe Rouge, Mud Jeans, Myomy Do Goods, Myssyfarmi, Päälä, Rewrap, Tranquillo, Trevor ́s Choice by Daily ́s, Tuschimo, Vintage for a Cause and Zuckerkrawatte.
Hotly debated topic: circular economy
Another hot topic at the trade fair duo was the current issue of a circular economy. Fashion and sustainability experts discussed conserving resources, recycling and up-cycling and additional aspects of the circular economy at the traditional “Create Green breakfast”. An outdoor showcase at the Ethical Fashion Show Berlin also tackled the same topic and presented examples of high-quality recycling in cooperation with Greenroom Voice. Well-known and up-and-coming outdoor brands such as Patagonia, Bleed and Pyua showcased their approaches with regard to using chemically or mechanically recycled raw materials.
Planet Textiles in Copenhagen
This May, Copenhagen will become the global meeting point for textiles and sustainability. The Danish capital will be the location for the congress Planet Textiles for the first time on 11 May 2016 – and the timing coincides with the annual membership meeting of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (9/10 May) and the Copenhagen Fashion Summit (12May). The event organizers are MCL Global and Messe Frankfurt. The location for all three congresses is Copenhagen’s concert hall. Planet Textiles is the main sustainability-focused event for the global textile industry.
Source: Messe Frankfurt