Chic confirms two sessions for 2015

By

Bruno Joly

Published
Jun 27, 2014

The organizers of Chic, renamed the China International Fashion Fair, are actively preparing for 2015. As previously announced, the Chinese apparel trade fair is leaving Beijing for Shanghai, a big move after having spent more than 20 years in China's capital.

Jordan Cheng, in charge of Chic for the fair's co-organizer China World Trade Center, confirmed that the show will hold two sessions in 2015. He spoke at a press conference in Paris, a stop on a European promotional tour that also includes Spain and Germany. Normally the fair takes place once a year at the end of March. As the market evolves, potential fair visitors, including multibrands and e-tailers, now need an event to develop their spring-summer collections. This edition will be held in September or October, with the exact date to be confirmed.

The Chic press conference was also an opportunity to review the show's development. From 1993 to 1999, the focus was on national brands. 2000 to 2010 was a period of expansion with franchise partners. And from 2010 to 2014, the fair moved into the upscale sector. Now the show enters a new era with an organization based on fashion styles. The fair expects 1200 brands, including 500 international labels versus 1086 in March 2014. It will be organized in an 8 +4 +1 format, with 8 referring to the traditional sectors: international pavilions, menswear, womenswear, contemporary, leather goods, children's wear, accessories and fashion suppliers. The fair will also offer 4 spaces pegged to develop future trends: Star World, Designers Gallery, Fashion Sourcing and Link Future for new technologies. And number 1 refers to the incorporation of Chic Young Blood, the young fashion fair, into the parent exhibition. The event had been launched in 2011 in October, tasked with preparing buyers to visit two shows per year.

From March 18–20, coinciding with Intertextile, Chic will occupy 100,000 square meters at the new exhibition center, just one-fourth of what will undoubtedly be the largest trade fair grounds in China. Jordan Zeng does not rule out inviting foreign fairs to gain a foothold in Chic but no decision has been made for the time being. The American trade fair organizer ENK had staged a group show as part of Chic for one year. Chic also mentioned a 360-degree experience for visitors beyond the trade fair, such as the China Fashion Business Forum, the Annual China Fashion Award or visits to companies and/or factories.