After two days of the APLF three day event the general consensus from exhibitors interviewed was that the flow of visitors to both APLF - MM&T (www.mmt.aplf.com) and Fashion Access (www.fashionaccess.aplf.com) had increased significantly compared to the 2009 event held at the height of the global financial crisis.
Exhibitors’ perceptions will be confirmed when official visitors figures are released soon after the Easter vacation. There were significantly more APLF - MM&T buyers, and more importantly, decision-makers, from Korea and China. In the case of Fashion Access more Italian and French buyers were in evidence as well as their Asian counterparts from countries such as Japan, Korea and Indonesia. Visitors from both North and South America also increased their presence at this year’s Fashion Access.
The key to more buoyant commercial activity is confidence – not only for the stock markets which have been rising for one whole year but also for fairs which form the sales and marketing platform for the fashion industry.
“There are many more visitors than a year ago. There is more optimism, more confidence to do business. The fair has also grown in size compared to last year, which is a positive sign,” said Fernando Nieto of Grabados Tannery, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
APLF - MM&T and Fashion Access are mirroring the overall confidence and optimism pervading the industry. There is a growing belief that this will continue into the final day of what have been two extremely encouraging events both for exhibitors and buyers from all corners of the globe.
Said Lemi Tolunay, Chairman of the Istanbul Leather and Leather Products Exporters’ Association (ITKIB) who noted a record of 30 companies in the Turkish pavilion this year: “Hong Kong and APLF are the global link to make international contacts for our companies”.
About APLF Limited
APLF Limited is a joint venture between UBM Asia Limited and SIC SA, Paris and is managed in Asia by UBM Asia Limited.
For fair details, please contact:
Ms Perrine Ardouin, Senior Event Manager
Email: Perrine.Ardouin@ubm.com
For media enquiries, please contact:
Ms Emily Chan, Marketing Communications Executive
Email: Emily.Chan@ubm.com
APLF Limited
17/F China Resources Building
26 Harbour Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong
Tel: (852) 2827 6211
Fax: (852) 2827 7831
Website: www.aplf.com
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