While the apparel sector currently laments declining sales across most of Western Europe due to low consumption rates, Eastern Europe’s markets continue to enjoy an upswing. The eleventh CPM – Collection Premiere Moscow (10 to 13 September) drew to a close with record attendance of 18,500 buyers representing a 8% rise on previous year’s figures of 17,200. For four days over 1,500 companies and brands (up 16% on previous year’s figure of 1,300) from 35 countries presented the fashion for Spring/Summer 2009 at Eastern Europe’s leading fashion trade fair. The four days of the exhibition were characterised by good business deals and new contacts. After all, approximately 80% of the Russian apparel needs are covered by imports. Here CPM has provided retail with a comprehensive overview and international apparel manufacturers with a powerful sales tool.

84% of CPM visitors came from Russia with a growing proportion from the regions surrounding the centres Rostov-on-Don, Nizhny Novgorod and Jekaterinburg. Almost one in three visitors was attending the trade fair for the first time. In terms of a general assessment, the fashion ranges and fashion shows CPM once again achieved very high satisfaction levels: Over 90% of the buyers polled stated they were satisfied to very satisfied with the trade fair.

Commenting on the outcome of the trade fair Frank Hartmann, CEO and President of IGEDO, said: “Russia is a very attractive market! We have been saying so for five years now and will certainly be able to continue saying so in the next five years. Growth, and hence the interest taken in CPM, is increasingly shifting towards the Russian regions. CPM and its exhibitors are substantially benefited by this development. The trade fair is an extremely successful order platform for the fashion sector. A “must-go” date for allthose doing fashion business in Russia and the CIS states.” He added that the Igedo Company would further develop the pilot fair feel of this sectoral platform with a great deal of tact. He felt that especially the buyers from the Russian regions would play a pivotal role in this connection.

“For the German apparel industry Russia is the strongest growing market where potential is far from being exploited. German fashion is very popular in Russia,” said Klaus Brinkmann, President of the German Fashion Association, summarising the current climate. Nearly the complete Presidium of the Association of the German Fashion Industry had followed Igedo Company’s invitation to gain a comprehensive overview of developments in the Russian market on the occasion of CPM. Brinkmann went on to say: “All Presidium members were deeply impressed with visitor movement and quality and with the professionalism of the event as a whole. At present, there is no getting past CPM – Collection Premi?re Moscow for the fashion
industry.”

Alberto Scaccioni representing the Italian Fashion Association Ente Moda Italia (E.M.I.), arrived at a similar verdict saying: “Italy and Germany raditionally account for the majority of exhibitors. CPM has impressively underlined its central role for Italian fashion on the Russian market. The new design of the Italian pavilion also went down very well with our customers. We can look back on a very successful show.”

Salvatore Cuffaro, Sales Manager at the Italian company Intermode, which has showcased its collections in Moscow since the first CPM – Collection Premiere Moscow in September 2003, subscribed to Scaccioni’s view: “The quality of the visitors and movement during exhibition hour was up once more compared with the previous event.” Cuffaro added: “Visitor numbers at our trade fair stand were excellent. We are very satisfied with how the trade fair went and the new business contacts established.”

CPM has long been one of the established fixtures in the order season for the major part of the German industry next to such specialist-retail focused brands as Bandolera, Bugatti, Daniel Hechter, Gardeur, Otto Kern, Riani, Roy Robson and the Steilmann-Group. Brands like Brubaker, CCDK, Frank Q, Gestutz, Godske Group, Marianne Barslev and Park from Denmark, De Puta Madre, Bagutta, Moschino, Gianfranco Ferre and Belstaff from Italy, Luisa Civit, Matilda, Miquel Suay Menswear and TMX from Spain, FINNKARELIA, Gemmi Furs, Luhta Collection, Nanso Group, RIL’s, Turo Tailor and Vogue Group from Finland and Bleu Blanc Rouge, Dellallui, Derhy, Elite, Irene van Ryb, Lauren Vidal, Old River, Renato Nucci and Stella Forrest from France all succeeded in reaching new buyer target groups from the entire CIS region thanks to their exposure at CPM – Collection Premi?re Moscow. Altogether exhibitors from 35 countries took part in CPM. Maker’s Shirt and Stella Sasse were the first two labels from Japan to participate. In the CPM Kids segments the likes of Airfield Young Generation, Hello Kitty, Trussardi, Cacharel, Laura Biagiotti and Ferrari voiced their satisfaction with the trade fair results. The ranges on display provided a condensed and transparent overview of women’s, men’s and kids’ fashion, lingerie, leatherwear and furs, wedding and evening fashion, young fashion, leisure wear and accessories.

The 12th CPM – Collection Premi?re Moscow will be held at the Moscow Expocentre Exhibition Centre from 24 to 27 February 2009.

Further information relating to CPM – Collection Premiere Moscow as well as to all other activities of the Igedo Company can be found on the Internet at:
www.igedo.com
www.cpm-moscow.com
www.cpm-moscow.ru