Russian apparel market still in upswing

CPM – COLLECTION PREMIERE MOSCOW expands leading role with eighth consecutive increase in exhibitors and visitors

Russia and Eastern Europe remain an attractive sales market for the international fashion industry. The best proof of the long-lasting boom in the Eastern European apparel market was delivered in the past few days in the form of the eighth CPM – Collection Première Moscow, which just drew to a close on Friday, 2 March 2007. Organised by the Igedo Company, a subsidiary of the Messe Düsseldorf Group, CPM again set new standards and further strengthened its position as leading fashion trade fair for the Eastern European region.

For 4 days (27 February through 2 March 2007) 16,900 registered trade visitors—4 percent more than the previous event; 7 percent more than the previous year—from Russia and neighbouring countries ordered Autumn/Winter fashion 2007/2008 for their stores and chains at the Krasnaya Presnya fairgrounds. At the eighth CPM – Collection Première Moscow, exhibitors from 35 countries presented 1,200 collections (11 percent more than the previous event; 20 percent more than the previous year). The CPM exhibition area grew once more, adding 10,000 square metres for a total of 50,014 square metres. The result: healthy orders and satisfied exhibitors full of confidence that the powerful demand for quality fashion in Russia will not let up anytime soon.
For strong-selling international labels such as Bäumler, Bugatti, Daniel Hechter, Gardeur, Lagerfeld, Otto Kern, René Lezard and the Steilmann Group, CPM has long since been a regular part of the ordering period. But also labels such as Attila, Bertolo Cashmere, Brunello Cucinelli, Caramelo, the Claire Group, Crea Concept, Didier Parakian, Fuego, Meucci, Muchacha, Nümph and Passigatti are reaching new buyer target groups from the entire CIS through their presence at CPM. The continuing economical upturn and the accumulated demand are strong pulls toward the Russian market, especially for external fashion labels.
"The importance of CPM is unbroken, for exhibitors as well as for visitors. More and more visitors from all of Eastern Europe are ordering or informing themselves at CPM. On the exhibitor side, the high demand for exhibition area is not letting up," states Igedo Managing Director Frank Hartmann, analysing the development. "We will continue to build on the leading-trade-fair character of this industry platform," Hartmann continues. "After all, the fashion and apparel market in the CIS has not yet reached its potential."
Michele Puller, CEO of the largest CPM exhibitor, the Steilmann Group, summarized the assessment of most exhibitors representatively: "We are very happy with the trade fair. The event continuously gets more professional. We win new customers with each event."
Two-thirds of the exhibitors questioned in a representative survey stated that they were able to ascertain more professional behaviour from the buyers. More than 70 percent of the buyers at CPM were ordering decision-makers. Roughly 40 percent of the visitors were from Moscow and surrounding areas, while 60 percent were from the remainder of Russia and neighbouring states.
"More than three-fourths of those questioned make their most importance ordering decisions for the coming season at CPM," explained Hartmann. "We also know, however, that a growing percentage of Russian CPM visitors already gathered information and placed orders at the Igedo Fashion Fairs in Düsseldorf in February.
They complete their order at CPM – Collection Première Moscow. So CPD and CPM are complementing each other more and more."
At the largest co-operative stand on a 2,245 square-metre area, 134 German companies present their numerous labels and collections. Once again, Germany and Italy were the two largest of the 11 participating countries. Other strong exhibitions came from Denmark, Finland, France, Portugal, Spain and Turkey.
Next to womenswear and menswear, the segments CPM Kids, Young Fashion and Lingerie were focal points for buyers. The CPM Kids area again saw a "who's who" in children's and baby fashion (i.e. Kenzo Kids, Laura Biagiotti Dolls, Trussardi Baby/Junior); the Young Fashion and Lingerie segments saw growing interest. But also the comprehensive supporting programme with its numerous fashion shows, seminars and workshops offered significant added value.
The ninth edition of CPM – Collection Première Moscow takes place from 4 through 7 September 2007 at the Krasnaya Presnya fairgrounds. The10th edition of CPM – Collection Première Moscow takes place from 26 through 29 February 2008.