Russians fueling fair activity

SANDY PARKER REPORT, VOL. 31, ISSUE 6, MAR. 26, 2007
The following extract is reproduced with permission from Sandy Parker Reports, Weekly International Fur News. Sandy Parker has been covering the fur industry for more than four decades. For most of that time he has published a weekly newsletter, detailing results of international pelt auctions, wholesale price trends, business developments and movements in the trade, as well as economic and political activities that may impact on it.
Subscribe now and receive all the latest news, either in print or electronically. Just $150 a year for 48 issues! Sandy Parker Reports, 21219 Lago Circle, Boca Raton, FL 33433; Tel: (561) 477-3764; Fax: (561) 862-7052; SParker@SandyParker.com; www.sandyparker.com
International Fur News
with Sandy Parker
Russians fueling fair activity
APPARENTLY UNFAZED BY THE LESS-THAN-SATISFACTORY WINTER SEASON, Russian retailers are moving ahead with confidence and providing much of the support for this year’s round of international fur fairs. So much so that all of the fairs to date have done better than had been expected, considering the disappointing season, and have given the major credit to Russian and other Eastern European buyers. While buyers from virtually all of the other markets have turned conservative under the weight of their carryover inventories, the Russians – who also are reported to have heavier than normal stocks – nevertheless are gearing for further expansion of their market.
This was crystal clear at MIFUR, the recent fur and leather fair in Milan where it seemed that Russian, not Italian, was the official language. It also was apparent in the collections themselves, which were plainly geared to Russian and other East European tastes. Not that catering to those markets has diminished the creativity of Italian designers and manufacturers or their appeal to Western markets. The collections contained the shapes and features that were the highlights of the recent ready-to-wear shows, 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, such as crystals, sequins and embroidery effects that Russian women are said to like.
EXHIBITION SPACE FOR MIFUR, which was expanded to 286,000 square feet in four pavilions on Milan’s fairgrounds, housed 300 exhibitors from around the world, making it the largest of the international shows. But, while attendance at this year’s fairs has dropped sharply, there were only about 7% fewer in Milan, further attesting to the show’s fashion drawing power. And the biggest decline was in the number of Italians attending – 10% – while the number of foreign visitors slipped less than 4%.
IN THIS ISSUE:
Russians Fueling Fair Activity
Again Biggest Buyers at MIFUR
Milan Event Beats Expectations
Frankfurt Fair in Slow Start
N.Y. to Skip Fur Market Time
For extracts from back issues of Sandy Parker Reports see News Index. Subscribers can access an archive of complete issues at www.sandyparker.com.
-
For further information contact Fur Commission USA.
Home
© 1998-2011 Fur Commission USA