LE CUIR A PARIS is a fair that is doing well. It is a ‘niche’ event that has as its main objective: to inform the producers of finished goods, stylists and buyers coming from the fashion and luxury sectors on the finishes and colour trends of leather in all its variety.

It is also a selective fair that enables one to pick out the novelties more easily than at other big international fairs. Exchanges and close contacts with the suppliers are facilitated.

Finally, the Trends Gallery proposes a large choice of classical and ‘fantasy’ leather. The leathers are displayed in an easily accessible manner.

A positive outcome

The results have been positive for the April 2003 edition. In fact, exhibitors and visitors were unanimous in their satisfaction.

The exhibitors, mainly Europeans, are the tanners, manufacturers of components, fur and leather garments producers. The exhibitors came from Italy (46%), France (34%), Spain (8%), and others including Germany, Great Britain, Denmark, United States, Iran, Iceland, Mexico, Pakistan, Portugal, Russia, Türkiye taking the remaining 12%.

‘It has been a very intensive and busy fair so far. We’ve seen visitors above all from France and Germany and we’ll definitely be back in September…’ ‘Paris exerts a huge pull on the fashion world…’ ‘The timing of LE CUIR A PARIS is very effective: April and September are both the right moment to show new collections for the first time ever…’ ‘The visitors are undoubtedly at a very high level, real experts…’ ‘Paris has the reputation all over Europe for being THE place to meet. It is the focus and reference point for all the great fashion designer labels…’

2,700 visitors came to discover the summer 2004 trends. An increase in manufacturers of finished goods was noted as well as a growing interest from the stylists that visited the fair accompanied by their research and production teams. Sectors such as watch-making and saddlery have also marked their presence.

For the first time, TV coverage was provided by the first English TV channel, TF1, as well as the national FR3.

‘Corium’, the magazine of LE CUIR A PARIS, is publishing its fourth edition in June 2003. Apart from information on the perspectives of the leather sector and the fair, it will present other themes such as ‘Leather, the age behind the steering wheel’, ‘Leather on the page’ and ‘Trash Leather’. To be read….

Perspectives

A great number of companies having already exhibited, either in September 2002 or April 2003, have confirmed their presence even before the organisers launched their new commercial campaign. Sandra Maguarian, Show Manager, believes they can count on 30 new exhibitors, just as in April 2003. Italy and Spain will be strongly represented. Brazil will be represented by a pavilion organised by the CICB and will be exhibiting, amongst other leathers, frog skins. New products such as ‘orylag’ – the novelty in the April 2003 edition – will also be present. And LE CUIR A PARIS will continue to sponsor new creators and designers.

So the prospects for the September 2003 edition are very encouraging. LE CUIR A PARIS looks to the future with serenity – which is quite difficult bearing in mind the difficulties of international trade these days. Quality, creativity and fashion will be at the ‘rendez-vous’ in Paris Expo Porte de Versailles on 17, 18 and 19 September 2003.

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