Pacific grows at Fashion Access

The company behind Olivier Grammont and Pacific Leather has grown and developed together with Fashion Access. It started 10 years ago manufacturing handbags made of synthetic materials.  They met their first international buyers at Fashion Access (then known as the APLF Fashion and Finished Products Fair). Their clients today include C&A and the Vivarte Group: and those seeking affordable fashion bags in large quantity.     Two years ago they diversified their production and created a new company under the name of Pacific Leather to produce a high-end leather bags. The two companies operate with two very distinct production and marketing team and promote their products at Fashion Access under two separate stands. The new line of leather bags, designed by French born designer Olivier Grammont, was  launched at Fashion Access where it met an immediate success in particular with Japanese buyers. More than just a product designer, Olivier has created a whole marketing and brand concept based on the utilisation of leathers tanned naturally (with aniline based tanning agents) and washed leathers which are perfect for the vintage and natural look of the collection. This natural theme is reflected in every aspect of the brand including the decoration of the stand made of wooden panels and floors. It matches with the vintage look of renowned European and US brands of young casual apparel brands, and jeanswear retail chain stores, which are among the customers of Pacific Leather.      Quality and attention to details is the key: all leathers from Italy or other countries in Europe and Asia are strictly controlled and made of extra-soft washable cowhide. All linings are made of cotton or natural materials. According to Olivier, even more important than the original style and brand he has developed, is the level of service he provides to his clients. He likes working as a partner who can adapt his designs to his customers' needs but also ensure constant quality in the sourcing of materials and in the production in the company's factory in Dongguan, China.   At Fashion Access (2-4 October, 2008), Olivier will display his new collection for Summer 09, made of canvas mixed with leather. A particular type of  'Tied and Dyed' technique is used to colour the semi-finished leather in coordinates tones ranging from Safari green and light yellow and beige to greys.   The bag sector is constantly evolving. A new fast developing phenomenon is bags for men. Olivier predicts that the bag will become as essential an accessory for men as it is now for women. "Three out of 5 men will carry a bag. Look around: more men are carrying soft leather vintage bags or casual bags made of canvas or other materials mixed with leather"   It is now part of their lifestyle for young boys and office workers alike to carry a more fashionable bag than the nylon back-pack or the briefcase which are both falling out of fashion. Both companies will exhibit at Fashion Access (2-4 October 2008): Pacific Leather's new collection will be on display at stand AVE/D18. Pacific's other stand for non-leather bags will be 5G02. If you wish to contribute to the APLF News, with your experiences in the industry, your observations, or general thoughts on the direction the industry is going, we would like to hear from you. Email: aplf-news@aplf.com How long has your company been attending APLF? If you wish to be involved in the celebration of the 25th anniversary of APLF, we would like to hear from you. Email: aplf-news@aplf.com. Subject Headline: APLF 25th Anniversary