International Leather week preparing for best event yet

The International Leather Week will stage its fifteenth edition between September 24-26 at the Juan Carlos I Exhibition Centre in Madrid, presenting the largest showcase for footwear fashion and accessories in Spain and the most important business and trends forum for both segments. The fair, formed by the shows Modacalzado - the International Footwear Trade Fair - and Iberpiel Marroquinería - the International Leather Goods Trade Fair - expects to gather 700 companies, among which the main brands from the national and international scene, within an exhibition area of 36,000 square metres, 7% more than at previous editions. At this edition, the top Spanish and international companies will present their ideas in footwear, leather items and accessories that will dictate fashion trends next Spring-Summer 2005-2006 season, as well as the main new features in related industries (machinery, raw materials and tools for leather-working). As at previous editions, a large number of companies attend the event from Italy, France, India, the United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, Morocco and Portugal. In short, the fair will present an important event in which the quality of the products on show will set the predominant tone. According to a preview of figures, Modacalzado will feature the attendance of 630 companies within an exhibition area measuring some 30,000 square metres, where visitors will find all the various styles and varieties characteristic of the different segments that make up the market. The fair will cover the segments of ladies' footwear, gentlemen's footwear, children's footwear and commercial equipment, whilst also presenting the most important Spanish and foreign companies of high prestige, brought together in the Star Mark section. For its part, Iberpiel Marroquinería will gather 140 companies within an exhibition area measuring some 6,000 square metres. The fair is keeping its normal structure with the sectors of manufactured articles (bags, accessories and small leathergoods), auxiliary industries (tanned skins, tools, etc) and 'Bond Street', a specific section devoted to items of highest quality and most exclusive design. The Spanish leathergoods industry has managed to consolidate its position as one of the fastest-expanding export sectors in Spain. Over the last six years, this industry has managed to double its sales abroad, which means it will attend the next edition of the fair in September with some excellent growth prospects.