STYL and KABO trade fairs - summary

The 47^th Fashion Fairs STYL and KABO will be held at the Brno Exhibition Centre from Saturday 20 to Monday 22 February. For the fourth year, they have been enjoying strong exhibitor participation thanks to the stabilization of the sector. Exhibitors from fourteen countries will present new collection of 632 clothing, textiles, footwear and leather brands. Almost seven dozen companies will exhibit goods by purely Czech producers whose products are increasingly in demand among customers, and more than fifty will present their collections in Brno for the very first time. As expected, more than five thousand professional visitors i.e. mainly traders and buyers are going to see them.

The STYL Fair traditionally occupies the largest and most modern Hall P, where exhibitors from 13 countries will offer 322 collections, both women's, men’s and children's clothing, leisure fashion and also underwear, accessories and jewellery. The Czech Republic is also represented by 54 Czech producers. These will again include Anita Moravia, Donet, Doppler CZ, Felina ČR, H&D, Jitex, Jopess fashion, Hegler Fashion, Pleas, Tonak and many others. Fashion from Turkey will be a pleasant surprise this year, presented in grand style and offering fresh business opportunities. These are high quality and very fashionable collections of six manufacturers of both women’s and men’s, but also children's clothing. The clothing and textile industry is one of the most important sectors in Turkey which employs almost a third of all employees in the country. Other newcomers also deserve attention, such as a German family company ERFO or a Greek producer of luxury lingerie, Minerva. From the Ukrainian Kharkov, the Magneet company comes with a collection of hats, caps and accessories. Also interesting domestic exhibitors are returning to Brno, such as ladieswear wholesaler EWACO, menswear and ladieswear Šohajka or MARSELINI ladieswear from abroad. Strong representation is again prepared by Poland and the largest area is occupied for the fifth time by Ptak Moda company from Lodz, Poland - operator of the largest clothing wholesale in Central Europe, bringing together offer 250 Polish manufacturers and designers.

Three times a day, the catwalk in Hall P will host models to show the most interesting of exhibitors’ collections. Among them there will be the Czech Miss World 2013 Lucie Kovandová. Contracts show of women's and men's fashion, STYL show will begin at 10.30 and 13.30. Collections of lingerie, nightwear and hosiery in the LINGERIE Show will be ready for visitors at 11.30. Also, a special fashion event is being prepared. On Sunday, 21 February, the STYL fair will offer a unique LUXURY CUT fashion show. It will introduce a retrospective collection of originals of ladies' glitter dresses, created by the famous designer Oleg Cassini for film and music stars. The brilliant spectacle will be complemented by luxury models from the latest collections of the John Richmond and Corneliani brands, which are brought directly from this year's Milan Fashion Week and they will be presented in the Czech Republic for the first time. A pleasant atmosphere will be taken care of by compere Leoš Mareš. Entry is by invitation only.

The neighbouring Hall F will contain the KABO trade fair and new trends in footwear and leather goods. The largest contracts show in the sector will welcome all traditional exhibitors and brands like Ara Shoes, Caprice, Gabor, Geneze, Högl, Lanson, JG Shoes, Legero, Marco Tozzi, Protetika, Rieker, V + J obuv and Wortmann. Handbags will be exhibited among others by Arteddy, Axel Accessories, DOCA, Elega or Unidax. An interesting premiere will highlight the presentation of the luxury Italian footwear brand NeroGiardini, which manufactures footwear in the heart of the Marche region and belongs with their three million pairs produced per year among of the most important brands of footwear in Italy and are also a footwear partner for the Czech Miss 2015 and 2016. Also German brands Salamander and Lurchi will be represented for the first time, together with Paul's Boutique London and Gumbies from Great Britain, Imunzi from Poland or Vener and Roveona from the Czech Republic. The number of footwear exhibitors has increased compared to last year and the nave of Hall F is sold out to the last spot. In total, there will be 90 exhibitors from 9 countries, and 12 Czech producers, who will present collections and models of 240 brands. In the accompanying KABO FORUM exhibition, visitors can explore the creations of technical school students who will carry the Czech shoemaking tradition in future years.

An important added value of the fashion fairs is the only trend seminar in the Czech Republic, organized in cooperation with a renowned foreign expert. Who wants to really know the details about fashion for next season, and find out all the details on trends in women's and men's apparel, accessories and footwear, will be in the right place. An analysis of styles, shapes, colours and fabrics that will be the driving force of sales for the next season will again be introduced by a versatile expert in textiles and fashion, Ms. Ellen Haeser. Trends for autumn and winter 2016/2017 will also be presented through the exhibits from the new collections of numerous exhibitors.

This time, the trend seminar will take place twice, directly on the catwalk to be as close as possible to visitors and exhibitors. The seminar will be held on Saturday and Sunday at 2 pm and will be simultaneously interpreted into Czech.

The changes in the amendment to the Consumer Protection Act will be the subject of a seminar on court resolution of consumer disputes, which is organized by the Czech Footwear and Leather Association on Sunday from 10 am at the exhibition centre.

Two traditional ceremonies are also included in the schedule. On Saturday at 3 pm,  Czech quality and Giraffe certificates will be handed over to producers and suppliers of healthy children's footwear. On Sunday, Personality of the Year in the textile and footwear industry award will be presented.

Orientation in the pavilions is made easy for visitors through the traditional printed BUSINESSES AND BRANDS MAP, which visitors will receive at the entrance to the fairgrounds or at the cash desks. Throughout the duration of the Fashion Fairs, entry to the premises is only possible on the basis of compulsory registration or pre-registration. The fairs take place in halls P and F, located in the western part of the trade fair grounds. Visitors will be able to use the main entrance and entrances through Hall E and P.

For comfortable movement around the exhibition area, FREE STYL-KABO busses are available, running at frequent intervals (from the main entrance and from Hall E) to Halls P and F and back. The stops are clearly marked, you can not miss them. STYL-KABO busses can also be used by visitors who come to the trade fair by car and park in the indoor EXPOPARKING house right by Gate 4 opposite the Hall E. Furthermore, car passengers can also make use of a large parking lot next to Hall P (entrance through gates 8 or 9).