STYL and KABO – gateway to the Central European fashion market

STYL and KABO fairs at the Brno Exhibition Centre have been held two times a year since 1993. From their inception they were a specialized B2B show of the fashion industry. The aim of the organizers has always been to create an optimal environment for business, presentation and international cooperation in these sectors. Many brands and fashion designers known and established today entered the fashion market here in Brno. Thanks to the sustained interest of traders from home and neighbouring countries, mainly from Slovakia, STYL and KABO have been fulfilling their role as gateway to these markets for over twenty years. Moreover, as one of the few in the field they were also able to weather the difficult period of the last five years, when the fashion industry was hit by the economic crisis that has affected all trade fairs in Europe. Last year, the situation in retail trade improved so much that there was a distinct turn towards the stabilization of the field and of both fairs. Over seventy new exhibitors attended in February and in August 2013, and the positive trend continues this year. Again, over thirty completely new companies will be featured and there will also be the Fresh Fashion zone with independent designer fashion. In total, the fair will showcase more than 500 clothing, footwear and leather brands from 15 countries. From 16 to 18 February 2014, their current collections are expected to be seen by more than five thousand professional visitors, i.e. mainly traders and buyers. A new feature is the concurrent duration of the Optics, Optometry and Ophthalmology fair OPTA on Sunday, 16 February.

STYL with both traditional and new exhibitors
A large group of textile and apparel companies remains faithful to the International Fashion Fair, both domestic producers and importers. All of the traditional exhibitors signed up to participate, such as Pleas, Anita Moravia, Favab, Tonak, Karpet, Anytra, Doppler, Sanu Babu, Hegler, CPM, Jopess fashion, Jihočeská textilní, Veltex, Coexis, shirts manufacturers AMJ, Arikos and R.G.I., importers of French fashion Šulc, Boja and more. French brands Pause Café and DDP will exhibit again, also the Polish manufacturer of coloured jeans Rocks Jeans, PM-styl will introduce a Portuguese manufacturer of women's clothing, Givec. Jewellery will be traditionally offered by members of the Association of Glass and Jewellery Manufacturers, as well as companies such as Kalipra, AEL and more. After a successful premiere in August 2013, Fresh Fashion alternative independent fashion zone reopens, prepared by the Brno Exhibition Centre in cooperation with LoveMusic.

A new exhibitor, PROMORAIN company brings top brand umbrellas FULTON London to the fair, which have been a guarantee of quality, design and elegance already since 1956. As a manufacturer with their own technical and design development, they take pride in quality control and patented improvements, therefore their range is truly the best of what can be found on the global umbrella market today. That is why the FULTON London brand belongs to selected suppliers to Queen Elizabeth.

For the first time, visitors can also get acquainted with the Slovak company Belleshoes from Komárno who bring high quality apparel for sport and leisure to the STYL fair.

The Fresh Fashion zone will premiere a Czech fashion brand Ritore who create unique leather belts and fashion for lovers of minimalist style. It contains creations by young designers Emilie Swider and Ricardo Torini who hold several awards for clothing design. Another newcomer to the Fresh Fahion zone, Spookid, is a brand that focuses on the design and production of alternative clothing for children. Their main motto is originality for those who are not satisfied by mainstream clothing and they like things that seem "weird" to most others. This range will certainly not include pink ruffles, you can rather look forward to witty rocker creations for kids.

The participation of returning international company FELINA is significant, as their history dates back to 1885. A specialist for luxury lingerie in larger sizes, the brand‘s portfolio includes FELINA, CONTURELLE by FELINA and also a new brand for young customers, UNUSUAL. The company's priority is a perfectly fitting cut and excellent quality, they enter the spring and summer season among other things with new shapes of spacious cups for comfortable wearing and a new Double-Face material with a higher proportion of cotton on the inside. A new feature is also a series of bras with multifunctional removable straps.

The return of exhibitor Štěpán Junek Easy Style also deserves attention, they will attend the fair after five years and ten editions. Since 2000, the company exclusively manufactures and distributes Czech clothing, including oversized sizes up to 56. The entire collection is made ​​up of their own designs and they respond quickly to market demands and trends. Easy Style products succeed on the market with the quality of material, cut workmanship and favourable prices, their sales presence can be found in more than forty cities across the Czech Republic. After three years, MILETA company also return to the fair, as one of the largest European manufacturers of handkerchiefs, shirt fabric and lawns.

The growing interest on the part of Polish exhibitors who traditionally are among the biggest foreign participants of the Brno fashion fairs is encouraging. The large stand with an area of ​​300 m2 will present Ptak Moda - Poland's largest clothing wholesale, which is part of Ptak Trade Center - the largest wholesale centre in Central Europe. More diversion of the foreign participation will also include two winners of Central European Fashion Days, organized by the Hungarian Design Terminal Agency. This agency pays the presentation of the winning company at the STYL trade fair (INQ concept or an incubator for young designers with works of designer Orsolye Csík) and one at the KABO fair (leather goods by a designer and brand at the same time - Agnes Kovacs). Finally, the range of Italian and French brands is extended, represented at the fair by Czech companies Imponex, Irtanex and Ondřej Fotr.

KABO will show trends in footwear and leather
The largest contracting show in the field will welcome all traditional exhibitors and brands like Wortmann (Tamaris), Rieker, ara shoes, Mustang, Wendel (Marco Tozzi), Caprice, Lanson (Icebug), Geneze (Romika, Josef Seibel), Legero, TERM, V+J obuv, Gabor, Protetika and more. Leather goods will again be presented by Czech manufacturers of handbags UNIDAX, Ragazza, Axel Accessories, Verde, Hellas star, Arteddy, Sendi design, Borse Design and more. The common exhibition stand of the Czech Footwear and Leather Association will present companies Jiří Šnobl, Pegres, Lagen, VTR and Natur produkt.

New exhibitors at KABO include HH sportif company, who are the exclusive importer of HELLY HANSEN and SELECT brands. The history of the Norwegian brand Helly Hansen dates back to 1877 and they are a major innovator in the field of outdoor and sports equipment. A new feature in the company‘s assortment is the French sports shoes brand TBS.

Visitors should also not miss the premiere exhibition of Polish compnay Trio PL, who are is a major manufacturer of luxury men's footwear. Another interesting newcomer, Sonia Karaivanova, offer shoes for sport and leisure.

After two years, the DERMATEX company returns to Kabo, as a provider of luxury women's footwear brand DESKA. After an equally long absence, visitors to the fair will also get to know the Polish shoe company ACORD, also a supplier of bagpacks LEASYN returns so do more other companies.

Supporting programme
Four times a day, the catwalk in Hall P will be a scene of shows presenting exhibitors‘ new collections in women's clothing, underwear, but also sportswear, nightwear and swimwear. Shows begin each day of the fair always at 10, 11, 1 and 3 o‘clock.

STYL and KABO fairs always include a special supporting programme for traders. Lectures and discussion forums on current topics are prepared by expert guarantors of both fairs, the Association of Textile, Clothing and Leather Industry and the Czech Footwear and Leather Association.