SIMM & MODACALZADO+IBERPIEL clothing expo begins on Sep 6

According to the Director of both fairs, Francesco Malatesta, the current economic climate has led both events to evolve, which means that they now offer a larger and more comprehensive range of products and services that adapt perfectly to new needs and trends at points of sale. "Only those fairs that bring together a diverse range of products, encompassing various different sectors, will have a future", he states. Furthermore, Malatesta has indicated that the joint edition of SIMM and MODACALZADO+IBERPIEL is expected to present a strengthened Latin American appeal, thus setting the event apart from other fairs of this kind organised throughout the world. In effect, this joint event will serve as the leading point of entry for Latin American clothing and footwear manufacturers in Europe.

This development regarding the fashion trade fairs organised by IFEMA coincides with the changes undertaken by other European fairs, all of which have been introduced in order to adapt to new market demands.  

   At its September 2012 edition, SIMM brought together some 700 brands and welcomed almost 10,000 trade visitors, of whom 10% travelled to the fair from abroad. Meanwhile, the last edition of MODACALZADO, which took place in September 2012, featured the participation of some 500 exhibitors and companies and welcomed more than 7,500 buyers, of whom 1,000 were from abroad.

Satisfaction within the Industry

Representatives from the trade associations that encompass the clothing, footwear textile and accessory sectors have expressed their satisfaction at Ifema’s initiative to stage a joint event based on the two fairs. They are also satisfied with the dates that have finally been chosen for the event to take place.

According to Angel Asensio, the President of Fedecon, the Spanish Clothing Companies Federation, the joint staging of SIMM and MODACALZADO is "extremely opportune, because it caters perfectly for new market demands in the sense that it brings together a larger exhibition on the same dates, one in which the latest new clothing collections share space alongside footwear and accessories, as actually occurs in shops today". Furthermore, Asensio considers the initiative to be "extremely timely, because it matches the tendency for trade professionals to cut back the duration of their trips in order to optimise their time and money when pursuing their business activities. The idea is also that they only attend those fairs that can offer a wide-ranging exhibition". With regard to the dates for the new project, Asensio believes that "they are highly appropriate, being in September, once the summer break is over".