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WWD

WWD Wednesday November 19 2008 International Trade Shows Not Standing Pat New offerings have organizers feeling hopeful for 2009. by Louis Bartlett Seismic shifts are taking place at UK trade shows in response to the economic crisis, which has already claimed one casualty and forced other events to downsize. Web side overhauls and new areas devoted to future trends, such as eco-friendly apparel, are just a few of the measures that show organizers are introducing in order to beat the credit crunch. Despite the turmoil, trade show organizers said they are optimistic about the 2009 shows. “For all the doom and gloom in the media, touch wood it should be a great show and I’ve been approached by lots of new designers who want to launch their collections,” said Odysseas Constantine, director of the directional streetwear show Margin. Margin’s Feb. 8 to 9 show plans to tempt buyers with an increased ethical offering. “Ethical lines don’t all look like knitted muesli — lumpy and brown — as one might expect, and they fit in well with other streetwear labels,” said Constantine. The trade show’s Selvage area will feature denim labels such as Trousers London, Chance and Nu, all of which sport green credentials. “With French brand Nu everything is ethically sourced down to the rivets, which are antinickel,” added Constantine. Margin will be changing venue due to building work at the Vinyl Factory — its usual site — to The Music Rooms in London’s West End. “The new venue offers a clean gallery space. We’ll only be able to house 70 labels instead of 90, so we are having to edit more tightly,” he said.
WWD Wednesday November 19 2008
International Trade Shows
Not Standing Pat
New offerings have organizers feeling hopeful for 2009.
by Louis Bartlett

Seismic shifts are taking place at UK trade shows in response to the economic crisis, which has already claimed one casualty and forced other events to downsize.
Web side overhauls and new areas devoted to future trends, such as eco-friendly apparel, are just a few of the measures that show organizers are introducing in order to beat the credit crunch.
Despite the turmoil, trade show organizers said they are optimistic about the 2009 shows. “For all the doom and gloom in the media, touch wood it should be a great show and I’ve been approached by lots of new designers who want to launch their collections,” said Odysseas Constantine, director of the directional streetwear show Margin.
Margin’s Feb. 8 to 9 show plans to tempt buyers with an increased ethical offering. “Ethical lines don’t all look like knitted muesli — lumpy and brown — as one might expect, and they fit in well with other streetwear labels,” said Constantine. The trade show’s Selvage area will feature denim labels such as Trousers London, Chance and Nu, all of which sport green credentials. “With French brand Nu everything is ethically sourced down to the rivets, which are antinickel,” added Constantine.
Margin will be changing venue due to building work at the Vinyl Factory — its usual site — to The Music Rooms in London’s West End. “The new venue offers a clean gallery space. We’ll only be able to house 70 labels instead of 90, so we are having to edit more tightly,” he said.