I’m finally getting around to posting a trip report about one of the best fabric shows in the world, Première Vision, annnnd I added a little something above for Paris. The main show, the one I attended was in Paris but satellite shows are held in NY, Moscow, Shanghai and Tokyo. The show is comprised of six different areas, described as “events”. These were Première Vision (fabrics), Expofil (fibers), Le Cuir à Paris (leathers and furs), Indigo (textile design and production), ModAmont (trims and hardware) and Zoom (production sourcing). If you’re interested in sourcing the show from here, you can access the exhibitor’s list for any show here. Most of the show guides are here (click for other guides: ModAmont & Zoom). However, if you go to each individual site, you may get a better exhibitor’s list. For example, the leather show site offers a pop up window option that includes exhibitor’s website information, saving you the bother of searching for those exquisite Italian leathers you’ve been dying to find. Keep in mind that information is always in rotation and links will expire. As the exhibitor’s list fills out for upcoming shows, information from this last show will be removed and you’ll have to wait until after whichever next show to get complete information. Obviously the array of products and services to see is dizzying. Thankfully, the ambience was not. No no. Unlike any tradeshow I’ve attended in the US, the atmosphere was sublime. I linked to the definition so you know I mean exactly that. The floor was quiet and comfortably covered in padded carpet. The lighting was not harsh, most booths were surrounded on all sides with five foot partitions so any competing garishness they may have had, was contained within. There was no music blaring. It was -in my opinion- a tasteful environment designed to conduct serious business, not a wild party with competing signage, noise and smells which can overwhelm oculary, olfactory and auditory senses. Succinctly, the polar opposite of something like Project. Heh. I obviously can’t tell you about everything I found (did I mention I found some French pattern making books?) but I did find this very cool zipper company I wanted to mention. Most zipper suppliers knock each other off and spice things up with some colors and trims and call it good but this firm -KCC Zipper- is zipper crazy; they’ve done a lot of innovation in engineering, applications and styling. I don’t even know where to start but you can by looking under special. How about zipper tape in lace trim patterns designed to be sewn to the outside of a garment rather than being hidden in a seam? How about a built in hook and eye at the top of the tape? Or a “double teethed” zipper with zipper teeth on the edges of the tape (fun applications)? Zippers with multiple sliders? No problem. Are you looking for unusual tapes such as transparent or invisible tape, velvet, 100% cotton, stretch or tapes designed for sweaters you can get knitting needles or a crochet hook into? How about tiny doll sized zippers? It’s all there and I’m totally inspired. In particular, I was impressed by the French vendors for their prints. I saw one that was Dutch which I didn’t even know Holland did textiles!
For quality fabrics at a good price by far the Turkish vendors won that race. They have the most amazing qualities for pants and jackets. As For knits Japan has beautiful designs and simple melange knits. I was attracted the most to the low GSM single jerseys that are to die for, buuuut the prices are so high that a tear left my eyes as I walked out of the booth. Another great little fact about Premiere vision is that China is not permitted to show, so you really get to see fabrics that are not so saturated in the market. There is another show that goes on in a separate venue that is mostly china and lower-end fabrics which is called Texworld.
Above all, I loved the antique zipper. I’ve never seen anything like this. They gave me one but it disappeared. Personally I think someone took it from my luggage, although everyone that knows me would attest. I coveted that thing and minded it closely. This zipper is recreated from a 100 year old zipper. It is quite beautiful and distinctive. I believe this class of zipper is largely unknown, even on the internet. Which is why I’m determined to get some sent to our office so I can make samples with it! I can't wait till all the headers arrive to the office!
