It’s “Out with the Old and In with the New”.

Fashion Access opens new doors for companies looking to get into the booming Pan-Asia region market.  As doors begin to close on economic activity in the traditional ‘developed’ economies, others are springing open to divulge economies where demand is brisk and confidence buoyant.

China in particular attracts enormous interest, of course, and with a population over 1.3 billion this is no surprise.  It is growing fast, there is enormous potential, and it is increasingly sophisticated in terms of demand, quality and brand name. The attractions of China are very real but oftentimes obscure the huge potential offered by other Asia markets.  These are greatly varied. There are the ‘developed’ markets as diverse as Australia, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand for example.  And don’t forget Japan still, despite a decade of sluggish economic activity  the third largest economy in the world.  Some, depending on how you do the math, claim it endures as the second largest.

This diversity in Asia is not always fully understood by those unfamiliar with the region and who still tend to view the whole region either as ‘emerging’ or they get caught, their eyes stuck in the headlights of the mammoth that is China. 

The thing to bear in mind is that the Pan-Asia region offers not only big markets, but varied markets also.  It has distinct demands  for  top-end branded footwear, bags and fashion accessories, as well as value-for-money products.

Smaller economies, or those less developed, can also offer exciting possibilities.  Exciting because their economies are relatively under-developed right now, but present opportunities for smaller manufacturers of high-end products. For example: Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, the Philippines and Vietnam.  In most, if not all of these countries, there exists a burgeoning middle class whose members display cosmopolitan taste  - and  have the money to pay for it.

And, as if this is not sufficient enticement, there is the potential building up in South-Asia: Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and the fast expanding mega-market of India. 

There are 10 Indian exhibitors at Fashion Access: four are footwear producer, four make bags and two are accessories manufacturers.  Over the next few years this number is expected to increase substantially.  One Indian exhibitor, Maliks Export Pvt.,  exhibited at Fashion Access March. The company’s Mr Ashish Vijh commented:  “I knew a buyer 17 years ago but lost contact. I met him again in Fashion Access.   I have received many good contacts in this fair.  I have reserved a bigger stand for the next two Fashion Access fairs.”

ABOUT FASHION ACCESS

Fashion Access is held twice-a-year, in Hong Kong in March and September.  This September 2011 event showcases head-to-toe fashion for the Spring/Summer 2012 Seasons. Fashion Access is much more than just another sourcing show: instead it provides a complete fashion overview of up-coming and developing fashion trends.

• Two Seminars are fully dedicated to forecasting Fall Winter 2012/2013
• Footwear has always been one of the main pillars of Fashion Access and the number of footwear exhibitors is up by an impressive 40% over 2010
• 80% plus of previous exhibitors have expressed satisfaction with Fashion Access and will be exhibiting again
• 88 companies exhibiting for the first time
• More exhibitors from Indonesia and the Philippines
• Fashion Avenue continues to develop: this area highlights strong design and branded products
• Sustainable World demonstrates examples of products offering fashion made under socially acceptable and environmentally friendly standards
• VIP Buyers are invited to meet with exhibitors at the Prestige Buyers Club Lounge
• Fiercely contested by exhibitors of all categories the Best of APLF Awards identifies those pre-eminent in design, innovation, concept and promotion 

It has to be said that sometimes a market of great potential can be missed precisely because it is too close and taken for granted.  So, don’t discount the vast market right here in Hong Kong. Hong Kong remains a major retail market for both domestic buyers and those for whom Hong Kong acts as a ‘hub’ for supplying China and the wider Pan-Pacific region.”

There’s a lot of business to be done in the Pan-Pacific region, so open those doors!

The next Fashion Access will be held on 28-30 March 2012 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The 7th Prime Source Forum (PSF) will run alongside Fashion Access 2012, 28-30, March. Hugely successful and proving very popular, the PSF in March 2012 is going to extend its profile from purely apparel,  to a fashion event which includes the footwear industry.

This initiative is strongly supported by two of PSF’s founding endorsing organisations: the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) and United States Association of Importers of Textiles & Apparel (USAITA).

ABOUT APLF Ltd

APLF Ltd. is a joint venture between UBM Asia and SIC Group. APLF organises leading trade exhibitions in Hong Kong, China and India. It launched the Hong Kong Leather Fair 26 years ago - which is still the largest and most international sector event for all of Asia, and has expanded into the related fields of fashion and lifestyle products.