While apparel sales in most Western European countries are declining, Eastern European markets continue to grow. The recent staging of CPM – Collection Première Moscow attracted a record 18,500 buyers (8% rise compared to last year’s result of 17,200 visitors) and over 1,500 companies and brands (16% increase compared to the 1,300 exhibitors in 2007) from 35 countries presented fashion for Spring/Summer 2009. As Eastern Europe’s leading fashion trade fair, CPM 2008 provided a comprehensive overview of women’s, men’s and kids’ fashion, lingerie, leatherwear and furs, wedding and evening fashion, young fashion, leisure wear and accessories.

A total of 84% of the CPM visitors were from Russia, with a growing percentage coming from the regions around Rostov-on-Don, Nizhny Novgorod and Jekaterinburg. Almost one in three visitors was attending the trade fair for the first time. According to a survey, 90% of the visitors rated CPM with its fashion collections and fashion shows as good to very good.

The show’s organizer IGEDO was very pleased with the results of CPM: “Russia is a very attractive market! We have been saying that for five years now and will certainly be able to continue saying in for the next five years. Growth, and hence the interest taken in CPM, is increasingly shifting towards the Russian regions. CPM and its exhibitors substantially benefit from this development. The trade fair is an extremely successful order platform for the fashion sector. A “must-go” date for all those doing fashion business in Russia and the CIS states,” stated Frank Hartmann, President & CEO of IGEDO.

“For the German apparel industry Russia is the strongest growing market where the potential is far from being reached. German fashion is very popular in Russia,” explained Klaus Brinkmann, President of the German Fashion Association. Virtually the complete Executive Committee of the Association of the German Fashion Industry took part in CPM 2008 to gain a comprehensive overview of developments in the Russian market. “All Executive Committee members were very impressed with visitor quantity and quality and the professional organization of the event. For the fashion industry, CPM is a must,” noted Klaus Brinkmann.

Alberto Scaccioni, representing the Italian Fashion Association Ente Moda Italia (E.M.I.), agreed: “Italy and Germany traditionally account for the majority of the exhibitors. CPM has impressively underlined its central role for Italian fashion in the Russian market. The new design of the Italian pavilion was well received by our customers. We can look back on a very successful show.”

Salvatore Cuffaro, Sales Manager at the Italian company Intermode, which has showcased its collections in Moscow since the first CPM in September 2003, added: “The visitor quality and number increased again compared to the previous event. Visitor numbers at our stand were excellent. We are very satisfied with the trade fair and the new business contacts established.”

CPM has long been one of the established events in the order season for a large part of the German industry as well as for specialist-retail focused brands such as Bandolera, Bugatti, Daniel Hechter, Gardeur, Otto Kern, Riani, Roy Robson and the Steilmann-Group. Brands like Brubaker, CCDK, Frank Q, Gestutz, Godske Group, Marianne Barslev and Park from Denmark, De Puta Madre, Bagutta, Moschino, Gianfranco Ferré and Belstaff from Italy, Luisa Civit, Matilda, Miquel Suay Menswear and TMX from Spain as well as FINNKARELIA, Gemmi Furs, Luhta Collection, Nanso Group, RIL’s, Turo Tailor and Vogue Group from Finland and Bleu Blanc Rouge, Dellallui, Derhy, Elite, Irene van Ryb, Lauren Vidal, Old River, Renato Nucci and Stella Forrest from France were all successful in reaching new buyer target groups from the entire CIS region due to their participation in CPM. Maker’s Shirt and Stella Sasse were the first two labels from Japan to take part. In the CPM Kids segments, Airfield Young Generation, Hello Kitty, Trussardi, Cacharel, Laura Biagiotti and Ferrari reported positive trade fair results.

The next staging of CPM – Collection Premiere Moscow will be held at the Moscow Expocentre from February 24 – 27, 2009. For further information on visiting or exhibiting at CPM 2009, contact Messe Düsseldorf North America, 150 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 2920, Chicago, IL 60601. Telephone: (312) 781-5180; Fax: (312) 781-5188; E-mail: info@mdna.com. Or visit the web site www.mdna.com or www.cpm-moscow.com.