Crowded halls and happy exhibitors characterized the latest edition of Milano Unica, which recently changed its schedule and was held July 11-13 - two months earlier than usual for the first time.
The show registered the presence of 6,000 visiting companies, as many as those who visited it in September 2016, though they spent double the time inside the show compared to a year ago.
The presence of foreign visitors increased significantly as Dutch visitors grew 46%, Portugal registered +42%, Germany +32%, Russia +32% and the US +26%, in addition to other positive results from UK, France and Turkey. A loss was registered from Italian, Far Eastern and Chinese visitors, though the latter will probably visit the October edition of Milano Unica held in Shanghai instead.
“We participated for the first time and are very happy for the high quality international visitors,” commented Alberto Guzzetti of Tejidos Royo. Liberty London was satisfied as well. “All of our tables were occupied since the opening of the show,” commented Giuseppe Camarda of Liberty London.
“Anticipating dates was smart as this gives the show an advantage in attracting more foreign visitors,” commented Fabio Consonni of Mahlia Kent. “By happening earlier the show attracts more foreign companies interested in getting to know new trends for the upcoming new season.”
“We are all very electrified for this new edition,” said Luca Belenghi, CEO, Gruppo Tessile Monti. “Preparing our collections two months earlier required a whole anticipation in our company’s organization, though we are confident it can bring sure advantages.”
Also Albini-Albiate 1830 showed great satisfaction. “Our booth was overbooked with visitors,” commented Albiate 1830’s Tommaso Baldini. “Our foreign clients were especially happy as they will receive very soon all the samples they requested. They will be able to start working while everything will stop in Italy for the August holidays.”
Also premium denim specialist Berto was happy with the results: “Already since the first hours from the opening we registered great attendance results–both in terms of number and quality of visitors, as this show gives us the opportunity to meet top level brands,” said Berto’s Arianna Morimando.
The trend of sports fabrics entering almost every manufacturer’s collection and a deep love for jacquard and elaborate surface fabrics continue. Great attention for more environmentally friendly products and treatments are also a must.
Here is our list of the best items we saw at the show:
Best new fabric launch: Liberty Fabrics
This famous British historical flower-printed shirting fabric manufacturer has just debuted swimwear options for f/w 2018-19 and launched chlorine- and wear-resistant jerseys. It also continues to produce new alternative sports fabric bases including rip-stop nylon, sweatshirt material and baby-cord variants all carrying its always cool fancy and flower prints.
Best jacquard fabric: Mahlia Kent
This French jacquard specialized manufacturer that Mademoiselle Coco loved has launched very fancy variants of its iconic bouclé and multifiber mix fabrics. Inspiring motifs are ski resort panoramas and reinvented art masterpieces.
Best material mélange: Berto
Finding new material mixes and weaves is a must for this Italian premium denim manufacturer. It offered complex check jacquards and innovative weaves employing wool, cotton and synthetic fibers in the same fabric.
Best shirting jersey: Tessitura Monti
This company plays with blue-white patterns for special jacquard knitted fabric used to create high quality shirts.
Best ecofriendly innovation: Tintex
This Portuguese specialized knitwear manufacturer employs only eco-friendly production techniques and materials. It has just launched its water-resistant and breathable B-Cork coating concept that employs pre-consumer eco-certified cork waste material.
Best edible innovation: Pulcra
“Wear what you eat” is the motto that sums up the concept behind this selection of wool fabrics that employ the same dyeing substances used in the food industry. Unlike some other dyes they will not irritate human skin.
Best denim collection: Yagi Tsusho Limited
This Japanese denim manufacturer exhibited in the Japanese Observatory area and presented top examples of craftsmanship in denims that feature small holes, lace effect surfaces and mélange multicolor wefts.
Also interesting:
For more information on trade shows check out DFV Group’s expocheck.com.
