Cold snaps are gripping Europe and the US East Coast at the moment, but the Lineapelle events on both sides of the Atlantic are just getting warm.
Our preview of the show in Milan, combined with a broad list of exhibitors at neighbouring show Tanning Tech, starts on page 40. At the Metropolitan Pavilion in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighbourhood, the latest trends for spring and summer 2020 in leather, accessories and components for shoes, handbags, leather goods and leatherwear comprise the latest edition of Lineapelle New York on 30–31 January.
The event, held twice a year in the heart of the city’s contemporary art district, is a fixture in the leather calendar and serves as a sounding board for the North American market, which recently experienced a range of emotions and market flux due to the US Government shutdown and ongoing trade disputes, amid some market optimism.
Launched in 2001 by Lineapelle, the two-day event boasts the participation of the most exclusive European and international producers, and the highquality and variety of cutting-edge collections make it a must-see event for producers and designers of luxury and contemporary items.
Thinking Co-natural
A sophisticated Trend Area at the entrance of the fair provides visitors with an immediate and comprehensive summary of the latest collections on show and directs them to the most suitable suppliers on-site. Furthermore, the customary Lineapelle Trend Presentation is held to show the latest in leather, fashion trends in footwear, handbags, garments and upholstery.
Under the banner of ‘Co-natural’, this year’s trend theme embodies what organisers call the distinction between human and machine, and how it is becoming increasingly difficult to discern.
“Everything merges into a symbiotic relationship,” the organisers state. “There is no longer a contrast between man and technology.” Instead, they are fused into a new design philosophy that emerges from an awareness of being at the heart of something that is technological, while at the same time conceptual.
“Thinking Co-natural means tackling important issues such as the sustainability of processes and the ethics of traceability,” the statement continues. “It means becoming aware of the complexity and mobility of the contemporary world. Colours are emotional and go far beyond the boundaries of targets and seasons, acting as a filter between the real and the simulated world to generate unusual harmonies.”
The summer collections, held in mid-July, will also follow the fourth World Leather Congress, so more attention will be heaped on this globally vital and fascinating market throughout the year.
