65th SIMM confirms incipient recovery of the industry

25 Feb '11

6 min read

The sixty-fifth edition of SIMM, the Madrid International Fashion Fair, has proven to be the most successful in recent years. Based on a total of 18,665 registered trade visitors, this fair organised by IFEMA, which took place between 3rd and 5th February at Feria de Madrid, has concluded with some highly satisfactory results, thanks to the favourable business climate in which the fair took place and the spectacular increase in the number of visitors to the event: 53.18% more than in September 2010 and 20.05% more than in February of last year.

These figures represent an important boost for the sector and are even more significant when we bear in mind that SIMM is a key meeting forum within the field, one that helps professionals to gauge the state of the textile and clothes manufacturing industry each season in Spain. The results achieved at this sixty-fifth edition consolidate the trend that has been witnessed at the fair, based on two editions of ongoing growth, whilst also marking the incipient recovery of the industry as a whole.

Between 3rd and 5th February, SIMM brought together the Autumn-Winter 2011/12 Collections of some 450 companies and more than 650 fashion and accessory brands in Halls 12 and 14, making up the thematic area known as DC12.14 at Feria de Madrid, a new concept designed to host the staging of fashion and life-style exhibitions and events.

As is customary, this comprehensive and unique fashion showcase presented its products and services in a series of different sections, based on the philosophy and styles of the participating companies. In this respect, "Agents" hosted the attendance of the most prestigious high-quality brands that have an influence on the European market; "Charm" brought together the urban and practical fashion ideas; "Class" featured a series of contemporary basics; the "EGO" Section featured the creations of various up-and-coming designers; "Gala" presented a series of cocktail dresses, together with evening-wear and formal attire; "Natural" grouped together the natural clothing creations based on Country, Folk and Ibiza styles; "Warm" grouped together the fashion ideas made of wool and technical materials, ideal for cold weather and the rain, as well as leather and fur fashion.

The "Shop" section included an entire range of services designed to help points of sale innovate; whilst "Touch" presented an extensive variety of accessories designed to help us complete our image and enjoy the most fashionable styles of the moment.

With regard to the trade visitor figures, we might highlight the significant increase in Spanish buyers from Madrid, Galicia, Castile-Leon and Valencia, based on growth-rates of between 42% and 48% compared to February 2010. We can also observe the increase in the number of buyers from Catalonia, based on an increase of 77% with regard to the last edition of the fair back in September 2010.

Furthermore, the number of foreign professionals attending the fair (some 1,429 in total from 61 different countries) increased by 29% compared to the September 2010 edition. The figure remained stable when compared to the edition of SIMM staged in February of last year. In this respect, we might highlight the spectacular increase in Portuguese buyers at the fair, together with British and Russian professionals. In short, all of these groups enjoyed increases well above the average.

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