Survey of the European Fabric Fairs for Autumn/Winter 2010/11

16 pages, published in Issue 143, February 2010   Report price: Euro 395.00; US$ 520.00

The European fabric fairs for the autumn/winter 2010/11 season took place against a background of difficult trading conditions. Some Italian fabric manufacturers reported a drop in sales of around 30% in the first four months of 2009, and a fall in exports to the USA of up to 50%. With one exception, the depressing economic climate was reflected in the size of the fairs in terms of exhibitors and visitor numbers. Companies are restricting their travel budgets and sending smaller buying teams to these events. Buyers are placing smaller orders while they wait to see how trade develops. The one exception was Munich?s Fabric Start, a fair which has been gaining steadily in importance in recent years.

In this business environment, it might be expected that fabric manufacturers would play safe and restrict their investment in new ideas. But that is far from being the case. The most striking impression to emerge from the two main European fairs, Milano Unica and Première Vision, was the creativity and innovation of the products on show. One interesting change is that fabrics are gaining weight. For some time, fabric manufacturers have been striving towards lightness and airiness. But now fabrics?woollens in particular?are becoming more compact, firmer and heavier. Another strong trend is an old idea, rather than a new one. Country tweeds in traditional patterns and colours, a style summed up as the ?British look?, are very much in vogue. UK mills which specialise in producing modern versions of these classic fabrics were among the most upbeat of exhibitors. Moreover, UK mills are being given an advantage over their European competitors by the weakness of sterling relative to the euro.

Survey of the European Fabric Fairs for Autumn/Winter 2010/11

• Summary
• Fabric Fairs
• Fabric Trends

Buy this Report now	Buy this Issue (143) now	Subscribe

• Survey of the European Yarn Fairs for Autumn/Winter 2010/11, (November 2009)
• Survey of the European Fabric Fairs for Spring/Summer 2010, (August 2009)
• Survey of the European Yarn Fairs for Spring/Summer 2010, (June 2009)

Six times a year, Textile Outlook International provides up to 200 pages of expert comment and analysis. A subscription provides an overview of the global fibre, textile and apparel industries. It is essential reading for senior executives in the fibre, textile and apparel industries ? and for anyone who is not involved in the industry, but needs to quickly gain an understanding of the key issues.
Reports in Textile Outlook International include:
	country profiles ? providing a comprehensive guide to the textile and clothing industries in a range of countries and regions. The reports include an economic and political profile together with a comprehensive overview of the main issues, plus an outlook for the future.
	company profiles ? giving you the opportunity to learn from strategies employed by others. Companies profiled recently include retailers, manufacturers, innovators and sourcing companies involved in textiles and apparel as well as smaller companies which illustrate the opportunities for firms which are interested in selected sourcing locations.
	trends in world textile and apparel trade and production ? taking into account current issues facing the industry ? such as global fibre prices; competition from China and other low cost countries; the elimination of quotas and imposition of selective new ones; relocation of production operations; the impact of economic factors affecting trade; international trade agreements; trade promotion agreements (TPAs); and much more.
	trends in EU and US imports of textiles and clothing ? providing comprehensive statistical data and analysis of the top ten supplying countries to the EU and US markets. These reports are updated each year and contain value and volume data as well as average prices and analyses of trends for up to 15 product categories.
	innovations, technological developments, business development opportunities, individual sector analysis and political implications which affect players in the global fibre, textile and apparel industries. Some of the topics which have been covered in recent reports include: new innovations in the textile and clothing industry, such as environmentally friendly textiles, plant based fibres, and developments in textile colorants; innovations in textile machinery; and overviews of the European swimwear, hosiery and lingerie markets.
So whether you are involved in fibres, textiles or clothing ? in manufacturing, spinning, weaving, knitting, sewing, import/export, retailing ? or if you are in education or consultancy or investment or finance, a subscription to Textile Outlook International will tell you what you need to know about the key trends in the industry.
Textile Outlook International is available on subscription ? either in printed format only, or in printed and electronic format. If you choose the printed only option, you will receive 6 printed publications a year, containing a total of 30 reports plus editorials written by Robin Anson, our editorial director and in-house industry expert.
Electronic supplement If you choose the printed and electronic option, you will receive an extra service. You will still receive each issue in printed format, delivered to you by traditional post. In addition, you will be able to download PDF files containing the same information ? but the PDF files will be available immediately on publication, so you don?t have to wait for the printing and mailing. You also have all the benefits of electronic files: instant access even when you are away from the office; convenient storage in your PC or laptop; portability; electronic search facility; and copy/paste facility.