SIMM welcomed 16,776 professionals at its 67th edition
Madrid, 17th February 2012. SIMM, the Madrid International Fashion Fair, concluded its sixty-seventh edition, staged from 2nd to 4th February at Feria de Madrid, within a climate of moderate satisfaction, based on the favourable results achieved by the majority of the companies taking part at the fair. At this first edition of SIMM in the year 2012, the leading trade event in Spain for the fashion and clothes manufacturing industry welcomed a total of 16,776 trade visitors, a 56% increase compared to last September's edition and a 9% decrease compared to the edition staged in February 2011. This decrease was undoubtedly the result of the weather conditions affecting Spain and Europe in general, which prevented a large number of Spanish and foreign professionals from travelling to the fair. With regard to the origin of the buyers who attended SIMM, the Spanish Regions of Madrid, Andalusia, Catalonia, Valencia, Castile-Leon and Galicia witnessed the largest increases in representation at this edition. Apart from Spain, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, the USA, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Mexico and Sweden were the countries that contributed the largest numbers of visitors to the fair. In effect, the foreign visitor figures remained stable compared to the last two editions. In total, some 1,078 professionals from abroad were recorded. Out of the 16,776 professionals who attended SIMM, 4,723 also visited one of the three fairs that make up Giftrends (Intergift, Iberjoya and Bisutex), which confirms the importance of the initiative to stage these fairs jointly, thus facilitating the attendance of the wide-ranging group of professionals who have a shared interest in the different exhibitions presented within the framework of Giftrends. At its sixty-seventh edition, SIMM brought together around 800 companies, a 62% increase compared to February 2011. These participants presented their latest ideas in women's fashion, leather and fur fashion and accessories for the new Autumn/Winter 2012-2013 Season within an exhibition area measuring 13,883 net square metres. Once again on this occasion, the fair presented an exhibition organised around the type, concept and style of product. In this respect "Charm" featured urban and practical designs; "Class," contemporary basics; "Gala," cocktail party outfits, evening-wear and ceremonial attire; "Natural," natural clothing items that define the Country, Folk and Ibizan styles; "Warm," woollen fashion and technical fabrics designed to protect the wearer from the rain and cold, and Iberpiel Moda en Piel, leather fashion; "Shop," with all kind of services that enable members of the trade to innovate at their points of sale; "Ready," inter-seasonal fashion collections; and "Touch," that focused on fashion accessories. This wide-range exhibition was completed with the EGO Section that brought together the collections of some 20 up-and-coming designers. Among the participating companies at this edition of the fair, we might highlight Intuition Paris; Lang Furs; Le Fate; Pause café; Esprit; Moma Costume; Cocoa; El Escondite Francés, Gymtonic; Simorra; Beat the Beatle; Kookai; Ana Mora; J+G; Flamenco; Veneno en la Piel; Vilagallo, Oky Coky and Alba Conde, among others. The Showrooms Were a Great Success With regard to the companies that took part at the IFEMA Fashion Showrooms, which brought together a number of brands from the medium-high market segment, the majority rated their presence at the Showrooms favourably and their intention is to repeat their attendance at future editions. More than one hundred companies took part at the IFEMA Showrooms, a 22 per cent increase compared to the number that were brought together at last February's edition. The Showrooms were staged at the North Convention Centre at Feria de Madrid. Airfield, Albert S.Lasry, Anathea, Andrea Lisinicchia, Anneclaire, Bleu Blanc Rouge, Byblos, Cantallops 1897, Caractère, Dellacianacashmere, Didier Parakian; Dismero, Elena Miró, Eleonora Amadei, Galloti, Gina Bacconi, HS Collections by Sofia de Habsburgo; Les Copains; Les Copains Bleu; Luisa Cerano; Manetti; Michael Wagner; Miroglio España; Nina Ricci Foulards, Gerard Darel; Mercedes Alonso y Piedad Rodríguez, were some of the brands that took part at this area. Furthermore, Castile-Leon was Guest Spanish Region at the sixty-seventh edition of SIMM, based on a strong level of representation on the part of companies from this region in the CHARM, EGO, WARM and TOUCH Sections at the fair. Satisfactory Ratings Among the Exhibitors In general terms, the participating companies rated the fair positively. According to various companies taking part at SIMM, such as Esprit, the fair offered them an excellent opportunity to reach certain customers and clients. Francisco Álvarez, the firm's Managing Director for the Iberian Region, explained that the company's presence at SIMM "enabled us to gain access to potential customers in a very short space of time that we would otherwise have found very difficult to reach". According to Borja Escudero, from El Escondite Francés, the company's results were highly favourable because the brand not only managed to recruit 20 new clients throughout the fair's three-day duration, but it also opened up market opportunities in Galicia and Portugal. Regarding EXE Shoes or Lollipops, SIMM has become the ideal platform to introduce their brand in the Spanish market and make themselves known, as well as continue to increase their customer base. IFEMA has already started working on the next edition of SIMM, to be staged from 30th August to 1st September 2012 in Halls 12 and 14 at Feria de Madrid.