Following the ninth annual Istanbul Leather Fair (IDF) at the Tuyap Exhibition Centre last week, the consensus was that the event was quieter than 2013. Official numbers are due to be released on 8 December, but the expectation of attracting 15,000 visitors, as stated by the Turkish Leather Foundation (TÜRDEV), have probably fallen short, if comments on the ground were any indication.
Regardless, there were still 353 exhibitors from 35 countries spread across four halls. But with key markets like Russia and Ukraine adversely affected by ongoing political crises, it’s more important than ever for Turkey to look to other big opportunities in Asia to bolster market share. However, the scheduled fashion shows, which highlighted home-grown Turkish designers and their cutting-edge concepts, were a massive draw with the designated auditorium completely packed out.
Stay tuned on leathermag.com for further updates once official numbers from IDF are released.
