The following are highlights from the Sandy Parker Reports, Weekly International Fur News, reproduced with permission. Sandy Parker has been covering the fur industry for over 40 years. For the last 30 years he has published a weekly newsletter, detailing the results of all the major international pelt auctions, wholesale price trends, business developments and movements within the trade, as well as economic and political activities that may impact on it.

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International Fur News
with Sandy Parker

International fairs seen falling short

DESPITE THE GOOD WINTER SELLING SEASON, due in large part to the seasonable temperatures, business at the international fur fairs so far has not been up to expectations. Retailers in North America and Western Europe have been noticeably slower in replenishing their inventories and even the hitherto aggressive Russians have been exercising restraint in their approach to the coming season. This was first evident at the Hong Kong and Frankfurt fairs, where attendance lagged behind a year ago. It was thought that MIFUR, because of its fashion importance, would buck that trend, but the Milan event also followed suit with a slightly smaller crowd.

According to buyers and others who attended MIFUR, this year's presentation left them less excited than in previous years. Although some of the designers were said to have lived up to their reputations with fresh-looking collections, visitors felt there was too much concentration on styles that would appeal more to Russian and other Eastern European markets - their biggest customers - and not enough sophistication for Western fashionistas. The collections contained the shapes and features that were the highlights of the recent ready-to-wear shows in Milan and elsewhere, but there also were more of the fuller coats in mink, sable and long-haired wild furs, as well as karakul and broadtail. Many featured intricate detailing, effects that Russian women are said to like.

THE FAIR CLOCKED ABOUT 15,000 VISITORS OVERALL, but the number of actual purchasing companies was listed at 4,416, a decline of 15% from a year ago. Of these, 2,245 - more than half - were from Russia, Ukraine and Lithuania. That contingent was 6% larger than last year's, reflecting those markets' increase and their greater interest in Western fashion. That also indicated that the decline was entirely in the number of Western companies present.

IN THIS ISSUE:

Intl. Fairs Seen Falling Short
Attendance Down at MIFUR
Fewer Westerners Show Up...
...but Russian Buying Increases
Interest Rate Cut Sparks Hope

For back issues of Sandy Parker Reports see News Index.

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