Precise and clean-cut in line and shape is the fashion, with pencil skirts, narrow bermudas and capris through to „drain-pipes“ or leggings and straight –cut clothes. These include larger, broader-cut tops. The colour image, defined by white and black through to bright neutral and grey tones, also signals coolness. A look for purists with a sense of allure. The theme’s shoe models have a simple feel, but with high-quality shape and materials, peeptoes, pumps, slingbacks and...

Effect attained by valence – “Less is more”
This slogan earlier went along with a fashion decade – then it was about pure minimalism. Today, after a period of opulence, decoration, eroticism and rage of colours, we encounter an easing on the fashion scene. Solidity and elegance, the longing for pure beauty, geometric austerity and a generous practicality reflect an explicit sense of taste. Fashion and product design follow the same path. However, minimalism is not at all involved in that. Instead of superficial decoration, trash and rumpus, the effect is attained by a refined shaping, exquisite and extraordinary material, and an elaborate processing fond of details.

Making a fabric waterproof is easy. Nothing to brag about. The real trick is making a waterproof fabric that doesn’t cause you to soak in your own perspiration. Hence, all the fuss about “breathability revolution” and improvements are still being measured only in percentages. We believe that any argument about “level of breathability” is irrelevant if the inside of the fabric still gets damp and clammy during use.

The recent Fashion Access, held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, 4 – 6, October, demonstrated again its attraction to quality buyers worldwide and exhibitors were satisfied with great business opportunities. The exhibition welcomed a total of 6,495 buyers from 68 countries and regions. Most came from the Asia Pacific region, accounting for 29.6% of the total buyers (figures excluding Hong Kong).

The competitive environment of the international shoe industry has changed dramatically in past years. The Düsseldorf Trade Fair is paying tribute to this development and will premier a new event on the market in March: The `Global Shoes & Accessories’ will be held for the first time from 9th – 11th March 2007 parallel to the trade fairs GDS / GLS – International Event for Shoes, Leather Goods & More and will offer volume producers along with OEMs a professional communication and ordering platform.

The trade fair duo GDS and GLS now have a fresher, new look. A modern logo now forms the trademark of the two events organised by Messe Düsseldorf GmbH. The new logo with its softer, more minimalist type melts the two established separate logos into a new uniform corporate design with high recognition levels.

The MICAM shoEvent shows further growth for this prestigious international footwear exhibition held at the Milan trade fair from 21 to 24 September. This year it totalled 44,192 visitors, 5.7% more than the September 2005 edition. Satisfaction for event organisers, ANCI (the Italian Footwear Manufacturers’ Association), was further added to by excellent figures for foreign operators...

The 102nd GDS surpassed all expectations for HÖGL, the Austrian ladies quality shoe brand, and has developed to become one of the most successful trade fairs of all past seasons.