GDS/GLS - prestigious event for a dynamic industry
21 Feb '08
3 min read
We were only too pleased to open another hall, namely Hall 17, to satisfy the large international demand for exhibition space in the exclusive segment”.
The areas Young Fashion in Hall 13 as well as Lifestyle & Sports in Hall 14 provide the forum for such well-established brands as Camel, Converse, Kangaroos, Lacoste, Replay and Sketchers.
Both areas have grown by 12%. New entrants to GDS/GLS include the likes of Aces of London, Le Coq Sportif and Warmbat (Hall 13) as well as Baffin, Ca'shott, Callaghan and Cinque in the Lifestyle & Sports area. Returning to the fair after a number of seasons will be the English label Clarks.
Strong showing of German shoe manufacturers – Italian brands up 45%: German producers are focusing more heavily on fashion statement in their current collections and are all represented at GDS/GLS almost without exception. For exhibitors like Ara, Gabor, Lloyd, K+S, Marc, Peter Kaiser, Rieker and the Wortmann-Group GDS/GLS has traditionally been an important business platform.
Now also more and more Italian labels have recognised the potential GDS/GLS holds for Central and Northern European markets. Accordingly, labels such as Duca del Nord, Fausto Santini, Nebuloni, Ruggeri and woman designer Kailia have 'blessed' the trade fair with a 45% increase in Italian exhibitors.
For UK firms GDS/GLS posts a 33% rise, the Netherlands are represented by 16% more exhibitors. Furthermore, the trade fair is also posting higher attendance from Spain, Scandinavia and the USA.