LINEAPELLE: signs of vitality and adaptation to the new normality
The 99th edition of LINEAPELLE took place between February 22nd and 24th, 2022 at the Fieramilano Rho exhibition center in Italy. The event took place in a global context marked by the pandemic and the war in Eastern Europe, and even so, it showed the "new normal" in the sector.
The Italian suppliers fair exhibited the proposals for Spring/Summer 2023 in skins, leather, accessories, materials and components for the fashion industry (footwear, leather goods and clothing). In this sense, the six pavilions of the fairgrounds were occupied by a volume greater than 960 exhibitors, from 31 countries.
Prior to the exhibition, the organization had confirmed a 30% higher participation compared to last September's version, with two thirds of Italians among the total number of exhibitors.
Segmented by sectors, around 500 tanneries exhibited their products, more than 300 component and accessory firms; and 100 of synthetics and fabrics, as reported by its organizers.
The exhibiting companies received a visit of more than 13 thousand people, standing out visitors from Spain, Germany, France, Portugal, the United States, the United Kingdom and Turkey, and registering the absence of Asian concurrence.
Among the different countries that exhibited their supply proposals, was Spain, through Footwear Components From Spain of the Spanish Association of Components and Machinery Companies for Footwear and Leather Goods (AEC) with 49 companies, an increase of 35% compared to the participation of September 2021.
The firms were satisfied with the results obtained, despite a lower number of visitors, the impact of the pandemic, the war conflict and the increase in raw material and energy costs, according to what was communicated by AEC.
For its part, APICCAPS, the Portuguese leather, footwear and supply association, announced the promotion of eight component companies, out of a total of 26, which also included the tanning sector.
Regarding Latin America, Brazil was represented by five tanneries, thanks to Brazilian Leather, a project between Apex-Brasil -Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency- and CICB -Center of the Brazilian Tanning Industry-.
Rogério Cunha -CICB Commercial Intelligence- considered that "visiting Lineapelle is a starting point for developing not only collections but also strategies and contacts with the movements that drive the sector."
The second version of A NEW POINT OF MATERIALS was part of the LINEAPELLE programming. The initiative focused on responsible innovation, with the exhibition of environmentally friendly skins, leather, textiles and technology.
"LINEAPELLE's consolidated green mission finds its most research-oriented expression in A NEW POINT OF MATERIALS project, which focuses on the future of the supply chain and the development of a language that goes beyond what has become the custom of trivialising sustainability. At LINEAPELLE, with A NEW POINT OF MATERIALS, we are going beyond and building a new horizon, which is concrete, innovative and responsible", said Fulvia Bacchi -general director of the fair-.
At Fieramilano Rho, a space was also reserved for Leather and its Circularity, an initiative related to the circular process in the Italian leather and manufacturing industry, through various projects of companies in the sector.
In addition, in a joint effort between LINEAPELLE and ASSOPELLETTIERI -the Italian leather goods association-, Mipel Lab was presented, an area dedicated to the supply of leather goods. In this regard, Franco Gabbrielli -president of the leather entity- affirmed: "We close with success and satisfaction the second edition of MIPEL Lab, which, at this point, represents an international reference point for anyone who wants to produce luxury leather goods”.
Among other activities, more than a thousand materials, components and accessories were exhibited at the fair in the traditional Trend Areas. At the same time, the proposals prepared and presented by the exhibiting firms were analyzed in different seminars, which were well attended by the audience.
Photo collaboration: Carolina Marrone
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