Staying ahead of new developments, fashion forecasts, trends, environmental issues and – of course – the opportunity to meet and talk with existing contacts, ferret out new suppliers and share common problems – is how APLF exhibitions can help.
APLF brings 27 years experience organising trade exhibitions in the fashion, lifestyle and leather sectors. Today, all these sectors are buoyant, due in large part to the frenetic growth in many Asian markets…and they will converge in Hong Kong for the annual event serving the global supply chain:
- Materials, Manufacturing & Technology (MM&T), the most international trade fair for the leather related industries
- Fashion Access, the twice-a-year show for Head-to-Toe fashion which includes bags, footwear and fashion accessories
- Prime Source Forum, the annual meeting of the global apparel industry.
Close to 2,000 exhibitors from 52 countries and regions will be promoting their products at the two trade fairs which will attract more than 18,000 buyers from 88 countries and regions.
Prime Source Forum, will bring some 400 senior executives from major companies worldwide who are involved in all aspects of the apparel industry’s supply chain.
APLF - MATERIALS, MANUFACTURING & TECHNOLOGY (MM&T)
Inaugurated in 1984 this annual exhibition is the industry’s most international leather event with exhibitors and buyers from north and south America, Europe, Africa and the Asia Pacific region. The fast-growing economies of both China and India are well represented.
The growth of this market is reflected by a 20% increase in exhibition space this year and 82 new exhibitors.
Exhibitors from all sectors of the leather, footwear and fashion accessories related industries are present showcasing products from raw materials and hides to semi- and finished-leather, and from chemicals and tannery machinery, to synthetic materials and components.
Featured prominently at MM&T are upcoming fashion trends recognizing that the leather sector is today an integral part of the global fashion industry. The spring-summer 2012 colours will be presented at the Materials Trends Space.
FASHION ACCESS (FA)
Up-coming fashion trends in colours, designs and materials feature strongly in this dynamic lifestyle event under the slogan ‘Total Look Fashion’. International exhibitors and buyers hailing from all five continents can browse more than 600 exhibitors including 106 companies participating for the first time. They offer lifestyle products including bags, footwear, luggage and travelware, leather garments and accessories.
Consumer trends seminars and workshops provide industry professionals with opportunities to network. At the March 2011 fair fashion trends for fall-winter 2011/12 will be displayed at the Fashion Trends Space.
COMMON LINK
MM&T and FA are closely allied events: they run concurrently, in the same location, and registration to one permits unlimited access to both.
This connection is underscored by a variety of on-site activities, such as seminars and workshops, fashion shows, displays of colours, fabrics and design, and general trends along the supply chain. Topical issues are addressed by a series of seminars and debates.
WHAT’S IN A NAME?
A debate under the title of “What’s in a name?” promises to be lively. Tanners especially maintain that the word leather should be used only for real leather. It should not be used in any form by those producing man-made materials out of PU or other chemicals.
Terms such as ‘man-made leather’ or synthetic leather’ should be prohibited, by law if necessary. Indeed, in Brazil such legislation has been passed.
The issue affects not only leather manufacturers but also those who import, wholesale or sell at retail level.
“What’s in a name?” debates this important issue on Day Two of the exhibitions, March 31, at 11:30am.
Entry to the event is free of charge but priority seating will be granted only to those who have pre-registered to attend.
PRIME SOURCE FORUM (PSF)
PSF attracts over 400 senior industry executives representing all sectors of the global apparel industry’s supply chain. They come together to listen and discuss with their peers and competitors the challenges and opportunities currently facing the world of fashion.
ABOUT FASHION ACCESS
FASHION ACCESS is an international leading fashion fair held twice each year. The fair is aptly aligned with fashion’s key buying seasons, showcasing spring-summer exhibitor collections in September and fall-winter collections in March. In 2010, 18,072 buyers from 89 countries attended the 2 Fashion Access events combined.
ABOUT APLF LTD
APLF Ltd is a joint venture between SIC Group and UBM Asia. For over two decades, Hong Kong-based APLF Ltd has been providing the global leather and fashion industries with its most important meeting and trading place.