Fashion Access, a fashion fair for bags, footwear, small leathergoods, fashion accessories, travelware and lifestyle products, enjoyed a strong turnout of buyers during its three-day (September 27-29) run at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.
The fair achieved a 9.13 per cent increase in visitor numbers over last year. Fifty-four countries were represented, with Hong Kong-based stores and buying offices leading the pack, resulting in a 30.95 per cent increase in Hong Kong buyer attendance.
China came in second with 798 buyers, up by 11.45 per cent. Japan buyers made up the third largest contingent with 243. Rounding out the top 10 countries list were Australia, Italy, South Korea, Russia Federation, Taiwan, the Philippines and the US.
“The increase in buyers is perhaps reflective of the fact that the fashion and leathergoods sectors – particularly leathergoods – have consistently outpaced the overall luxury goods market, and weathered the 2008/09 storm with much more resilience than the watches and jewellery category,” says Mintel.
Nonetheless, growth in the fashion and leathergoods market slowed from 20.6 per cent in 2010 to 17.6 per cent in 2011. Mintel expects growth rates for 2012 to be a little below those seen in 2011 but does not expect any major slowdown in growth.
Perrine Ardouin, events director of APLF which organises the fair, noted that the importance of fashion accessories and leathergoods to the global fashion business is unquestionable.
“There will always be a strong demand especially for leather bags and shoes, particularly those in the luxury market,” said Ardouin.
Visitors were also treated to a new look in the Fashion Avenue hall, a section of the fair dedicated to brands. The most welcome addition to Fashion Avenue was the 43-exhibitor “Shoes from Italy” show brought in by the Italian Footwear Manufacturers Association, ANCI. This was complemented by the 10 exhibitors of bags and leathergoods under the Italian Leathergoods Manufacturers Association, AIMPES.
The presentations of over 300 exhibitors particularly in the various country pavilions including those of mainland China, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, the Philippines and Indonesia as well as those of the Design Zone exhibitors from Thailand and Malaysia afforded buyers with a wide selection to choose from.
GB
