Real ‘leather’ to be debated at APLF
18 March 2011APLF 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. Visitors will converge on Hong Kong for the annual event held, March 30 – April 1. This year a debate will take place during the show to promote the merits of genuine leather and the use of the word leather in consumer products.
APLF – What’s in a name?
The 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 or synthetic materials out of PU or other chemicals.
Many argue that 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 exhibition, March 31 at 11:30am.
APLF 2011
APLF is made up of three shows in one- Materials, Manufacturing & Technology (MM&T), the most international trade fair for the leather related industries - Fashion Access, the twice-a-year show for fashion which includes bags, footwear and fashion accessories and 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.
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 the leather sector 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.
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.
MM&T and Fashion Access 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.
