94th Mipel Show closes with 17,369 buyers

03 Oct '08

3 min read

The 94th edition of Mipel, the International Leather Goods and Accessory Showcase, ended yesterday. A total of 17,369 visitors (9,304 Italians and 8,065 from abroad) attended the event.

While the total number of visitors dropped slightly compared to September 2997 (10,097 buyers), Mipel is still the only international point of reference for leather goods industry and distribution system.

“Mipel is the most important expo in the sector,” declared Giorgio Cannara, Mipel President. “Plus, the products displayed by Italian exhibitors are still the most admired.

Italian companies presented products of outstanding quality that in several cases revealed unrivaled craftsmanship, unique design, and a very creative use of fine materials.”

An eye on the world:
“With more than 1,000 buyers, the countries from the former USSR (Russian Federation, Ukraine, Belarus, and Baltic countries) represent the top foreign market for Mipel,” continued Cannara.

The number of buyers from Japan, with 875 visitors (11% of all foreign visitors), the Russian Federation (707, approximately 8%), Spain (550, 7%), and Germany (443, about 5%) remained stable. The 152 buyers from the United States confirm the difficulties of the US market.

Thanks to new projects like the International Trade Centre (a UN organization) and the one organized by the Bangladesh Leather Service Centre, the Bangladesh leather industry participated for the first time in Mipel with a group of Asian companies specialized in leather-working. This is a tangible sign of renewal and a search for new markets.

Prize-winning companies:
Mipel…issima awards were presented during the gala evening. The competition, which has reached its 15th edition, awarded the top companies in the areas of Quality, Product Innovation, and Image & Advertising.

The Quality award went to Falor of Castelfiorentino (Florence), a company that was established in 1980 that makes beautiful handbags produced in Italy with gorgeous braided or origami-like details.

The Product Innovation category went to Roncato, a company that was established in 1973 in Campodarsego (Padua) that produces innovative luggage, including polypropylene models.

Puntotres Accessories, a company founded in Barcelona in 1991 that produces 10 different collections of handbags, belts, and leather accessories each year, won the Image and Advertising category.

Lario Seta, a company from Como that produces and distributes through licensing agreements women's accessories by Borsalino, Moschino, Iceberg and Pollini, won the fourth edition of the Best Window display.

The Accessories contest was won by Ester Collezioni, a company from Pompeii that makes exclusive scarves in fine fabrics such as silk, with exquisitely tailored details and innovative clasps that renew the scarf.

Four awards were also given to important publications in the fashion industry: Milano Finanza Fashion, published by Class Editori and a success for the past 10 years; Obbiettivo Moda, awarded for its 3 decades on the scene; Stile In, which has reached its 10th year of publication; and Schumarkt, which has been a point of reference in the leather industry for 150 years.

95th Mipel the BagShow, March 4-7, 2009:
The next event is scheduled for Wednesday, March 4, 2009, with the entire leather-fur industry under the same roof and held on the same dates.

In fact, the 95th edition of Mipel will take place at the same time as Mifur and Micam at fieramilano. As a result, companies and visitors will benefit from this extensive offer.

Mipel International Leather Goods Show

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