Who's Next and Premiere Classe

The leading international professional fashion and accessories trade shows at the Porte de Versailles have closed the doors to their first event in 2017 on a positive note. The two trade shows have been a platform for a new-found energy, indicating an improved market dynamic.

A reassuring edition marked with the return of numerous leading buyers and boutique owners, efficient services for visitors, acclaimed conference programme and events; a positive general energy which reconnects the trade shows to their initial role: to stimulate the desire to buy, discover new brands, trigger sales and the flow of orders, and bring back together the fashion community.

Many different exhibitors from a range of sectors have noticed the arrival of new accounts as well as the upholding of their "regular" visitors. Nevertheless, the distributors have reduced the number of coworkers present, which explains a final visitor count of 45 192.

For the French market, one can note the return of multi-brand boutiques and selective concept stores such as Deschilder (Lille) for leather goods or Michard Ardillier (Bordeaux) for shoes. Also worth noting, is the arrival of new french buyers, new regional boutiques and/or e-shop's; finally, according to confirmation given by several exhibitors, important orders have been placed by department stores.

On an international level, there is a consistency in European buyers and above all the return of outside-Europe, with a notable 27% increase in Japanese and 8% more American buyers. Those from the Middle-East also placed some big orders, especially in the Studio and Private areas, where eveningwear brands have been very successful.