MONTREAL — With a strong economy and unemployment at an all-time low, Canadian trade shows continue to turn in strong performances, with some shows seemingly bursting at the seams.
The North American Fur & Fashion Exhibition is celebrating its 25th anniversary during next year’s event, April 29 to May 2 at the 200,000-square-foot Place Bonaventure here. Before it was incorporated into NAFFEM, the fur show alternated between hotels in Montreal and Toronto.
The fur market has changed dramatically since the first year, according to NAFFEM organizer Alan Herscovici, executive vice president of the Fur Council of Canada. “We began purely as a traditional fur show catering to a traditional fur market. But we’ve since expanded to include leather, shearlings and accessories. And the fur product itself has changed, with a wider range of colors and styles.”
Attendance at the Mode Accessories Show at the Doubletree International Plaza in Toronto Jan. 28 to 30 has been steadily increasing for the last three years. In fact, the event needs more space but can’t find it, according to show organizer Alice Chee.
“We have a three-year waiting list and could double the size of the show [to 120,000 square feet], but we want to run concurrently with the Canadian Gift and Tableware Association’s show because it complements our show.”
Canada’s two major fashion weeks continue to tweak their respective shows in the hopes of attracting more international attention.
“We’re still trying to be more creative to become part of the global fashion world,” said Chantale Durivage, co-president of Sensation Mode, which operates Montreal Fashion Week. The show runs March 5 to 9 at Montreal’s Imperial Theater.
The October edition of MFW featured 20 local designers, and Durivage expects to have at least that many in March. She would also like to increase international coverage, which consisted of a Japanese fashion daily in October and a handful of U.S. buyers.
L’Oréal Fashion Week is scheduled for March 12 to 17 at Toronto’s Musak building on the grounds of the Canadian National Exhibition. But unlike MFW, it appears to have caught the attention of the international media and foreign buyers, according to Robin Kay, president of show organizer the Fashion Design Council of Canada.
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“Fashion week in Toronto is now considered part of the international fashion weeks. We’re on Fashion TV and Fashion File, which is seen in airports around the world.”
Kay said the work of more than 100 designers was shown throughout the week and seen by more than 300 registered media as well as by a handful of buyers from the U.S. and one from Germany.
The first edition of FashionNorth’s women’s wear trade show, held at the International Center in Toronto, was a modest affair, featuring 68 exhibitors and about 110 collections, with some 800 buyers in attendance.
Although small in numbers, the show managed to attract some big names, including Buffalo Jeans, Bod & Christensen and Gimpex/Hide Society. And show management hopes they have something they can build on.
“We expect a one-third growth in the show. We’ve already signed at least three new contracts,” said Ralph Weil, president of Meteor Show Productions, which organizes both the women’s wear and men’s wear shows and the Luggage, Leathergoods, Handbags and Accessories Show, also taking place at the International Center April 29 to May 1.
Due to a scheduling conflict with the much bigger and older Ontario Fashion Exhibitors Market, the September edition of the women’s wear show was canceled, and the 2007 editions — to be held Feb. 25 to 27 and Aug. 19 to 21 — are a month earlier than OFEM to avoid repeat conflicts.
In September, OFEM added a parallel show called 100% Fresh, featuring juniorwear from several large companies, including Guess, Buffalo and Phat Pharm.
“The sales reps were asking for it, because they didn’t have their own show,” said executive director Serge Micheli, who added that the junior show will return for OFEM’s spring event, which runs March 24 to 27.