Survey of the European Fabric Fairs for Autumn/Winter 2004/05

Most of the fabric fairs for the autumn/winter 2004/05 season were characterised by a relatively upbeat and optimistic mood. After several seasons of economic sluggishness and severe price competition from imports, European fabric makers are beginning to see signs of a recovery. At Moda In, held in Milan, there was a notable increase in the number of buyers from France and Italy compared with a year earlier. The mood was also more positive at Première Vision in Paris, the main fabric fair of the season, even though numbers were down slightly. Manufacturers say that buyers were buying, not just looking.

Buyers? enthusiasm has been boosted by an abundance of new fabrics, novelty looks and a strong feeling for colour. A truly ?European look? seems to be emerging?characterised by high quality fabrics which are modern in construction and technical content but which have the unmistakable feel and appearance of traditional European products.

Designers are referring back to the great age of European Modernism in the 1920s and 1930s. Old favourites such as Chanel-type tweeds or the British outdoor look are being given a fashionable relaunch.

Armed with greater confidence, European fabric firms are preparing for a more competitive business environment after December 31, 2004, when all remaining quotas are due to be eliminated under the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing (ATC). Even the organisers of the fairs are planning to enter the fray. Première Vision and the Italian trade are talking about holding fabric shows in China. Above all, however, manufacturers realise that the important thing is to have a distinctive, high quality European product to sell.

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