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 Bangkok International Fashion Fair (BIFF) /Bangkok International Leather Fair (BIL)
Aug 22-26, 2007, Bangkok, Thailand |
Experience the Exciting World of Innovative Fashion at
The Bangkok International Fashion Fair and Bangkok International
Leather Fair 2007
The Bangkok International Fashion Fair and Bangkok International Leather Fair (BIFF&BIL) is set to take center stage once again in 2007, bigger and better than ever before! With a throng of leading designers to cover every niche of the ASEAN and greater Asian fashion scene, BIFF&BIL 2007 offers a deep plunge into the sea of style, and is a must for buyers, manufacturers, traders and the fashion-conscious public.
 This year, the five-day show which is organized by the Department of Export Promotion (DEP) will come up with the theme ‘Selected Fashion in Bangkok’ to reinforce its claim as the leading event of its kind in the region and to promote the goal of driving Thailand to become the hub of ASEAN fashion, design, manufacture and marketing.
Mrs. Benjawan Ratanaprayul, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Export Promotion (DEP), Ministry of Commerce, who presided over the BIFF&BIL 2007 fair launching, held at the DEP’s conference room on February 26, stressed in her opening remark that the prominent international trade fair has a major impact on the economy, particularly in the areas of favorable trade balance promotion and creation of jobs employment in the garment industry. “Today, it is no longer sufficient to wait for orders from buyers,’’ Ms. Benjawan remarked, ‘’It is time for us to stand up and make waves in fashion circles, to show the world what we are good at. Thailand has the advantage of having a complete fashion supply chain within its manufacturing sector, from upstream to downstream. On top of that, the government sector, under the Department of Export Promotion, is committed to promoting Thailand as the centre of the fashion and leather industry in the ASEAN region.”
Creativity and Ambience
Building on past successes, it can be confidently expected that the BIFF&BIL 2007 will outfit the ample 20,000sq.m. of the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibit Center (BITEC) Exhibition Hall 101-104 to fill the imagination, with more than 1,000 booths operated by some 600 local and international exhibitors.
 The Department of Export Promotion has prepared an extensive marketing plan and road-show to encourage buyers, sellers, agents, manufacturers, brokers and designers to participate. This year will see a greater emphasis on designs from Thailand’s ASEAN neighbors, such as Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia and Indonesia. As always, participants from other Asian fashion centers such as Taiwan, Hong Kong, China and India are also expected.
The schedule of BIFF&BIL 2007 has been set as follows: August 22-24 for industry and trade, and August 25-26 for the general public. It is expected that the number of visitors on trade days, including traders, buyers and agents from companies in Asia, the Middle East, Europe and America, will be over 8,000, while on public days the visitor figures will top over 25,000.
Zoned For Convenience
To organize this vast display of fashion finery, the exhibition area will be clearly and creatively divided into a number of zones, each with a unique character:
Fashion Design, the largest zone, is where a collection of talented designers – from renowned veterans to fresh new arrivals -- from Thailand and other countries will be presented. Trend Forum, with support from Bangkok Fashion Society and Pret-A-Porter from Paris, will showcase the coming fashion trends to inspire visitors and exhibitors.
From First to Finish Sourcing reflects the readiness of Thailand to assume the central role in the region in terms of supply chain for fashion manufacturing -- from raw materials to ready-to-wear, upscale to budget. Highlights of this zone are autumn/winter and spring/summer collections from the Thai Tex Trend Forum (T3), which consists of 12 leading textile manufacturers, and Thai Cluster projects which link fabric and garment manufacturers for exciting creations of exceptional value.
Brand Preference features local commercial brands with the potential to flourish in regional markets including Singapore and Malaysia, and then move on to the big time in Europe, America, etc.
Pick & Pay is mainly for wholesale manufacturers that serve OEM or ODM Asian markets, especially in the Middle East.
Exotic Asia incorporates the beauty of traditional Asian artistic expression into hand woven fabrics, costumes and accessories.
International & Asia Power features national pavilions for international exhibitors to display their works.
Fashion Accessories has necklaces, rings, bangles, bracelets, hats, clips, pins, gloves
-- you name it, everything you need to put the finishing touches on your look, all in trend and smartly designed.
Zones for leather products include:
Bags & Totes has the carriers for all occasions, be it formal, casual, fashionable, travel, etc., in leather and a wide range of other materials.
Foot Moves linked to Bags & Totes, displays all kinds of footwear for sport, casual, formal or other occasions.
Material & Tanning features leather materials and tannery supplies for all fashions and lifestyles.
Fashion Support is dedicated to all services related to the fashion industry, including educational materials such as trend books and fashion magazines and information on media, schools, institutions, technology, equipment and machinery, software, etc.
BIFF&BIL 2007 is also proud to present a Showcase Exhibition introducing selected designs, including those by finalists of this year’s Young Designers Contest, as well as the works of past winners, now veteran designers who are established figures in the industry. This is an attempt to promote and encourage more new talents to enter the regional fashion scene. The winners of this year’s Young Designers Contest will be announced during the fair. In addition, there will also be a Creative Accessories Contest, whose wining work will also be presented at the Showcase Exhibition.
Highlighting BIFF&BIL 2007 are the electrifying fashion shows, where alluring models make the inspired creations of Thai, ASEAN and Asian designers come to life on the runway. During trade days, there will be showings which feature two catwalks coming off a main stage, as well as three mini-catwalks with shows throughout the day.
On the knowledge-sharing front, a conference will be arranged with distinguished participants to share designing and marketing expertise and give an update on world fashion trends. Additionally, small group discussions with local and international experts on general and technical topics will be organized for those who might be interested.
To facilitate international visitors in particular, this year’s fair will also feature a Business Matching Service, a cooperative effort among the government sector, including the Department of Export Promotion, and the private sector, which includes trade associations and institutes. As well, tours of local wholesale markets and department stores, which serve as the flagship showrooms for leading local brands, will be arranged upon request.
The DEP’s Deputy Director-General, Mrs. Benjawan Ratanaprayul, concluded her remarks by touching on the ultimate purpose of the fair: “All activities during BIFF&BIL 2007 aim not only to facilitate business deals, but more importantly, to provide a platform for learning and development so that we can compete in the world market. This is to open up opportunities for business synergy, and to enable Thailand to take advantage of its readiness in this area, for example in its complete manufacturing supply chain. We plan all these so that we can realize the goal of becoming a regional hub in the fashion and leather industries.”
For those interested in participating in BIFF&BIL 2007,
please contact the Office of Trade Fair Activities, Department of Export Promotion at +662 512 0093 -101 ext. 217, 262 or at biff@depthai.go.th
More information is available at www.thaitradefair.com/fairin/biff07 |
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