PRESTIGE, 17 - 19 September in Dubai The essential international trade fair for upper medium-to-high end fashion and lifestyle brands in the Gulf at World Trade Center

Released on = April 28, 2005, 4:10 am

Press Release Author = planetfair

Industry = International Trade

Press Release Summary = European Clothing Exports to the United Arab Emirates surged by 43 per cent.

Press Release Body = Despite the dear Euro the European Fashion Makers increased exports of knitted and woven clothing to the United Arab Emirates by 43 per cent over the last year compared to 2003, representing a total value of € 292 Million. This was reported for the traditional fifteen member states of the European Union (EU-15) by the European Fashion and Textile Export Council (EFTEC), Brussels, as
official sponsor of PRESTIGE, the specialized trade show for upper-medium-to-high-end clothing and footwear brands launching its third edition from 17 -19 September 2005 at the Dubai World Trade Center.

According to Reinhard E. Döpfer, Managing Director of EFTEC, the U.A.E took 41 per cent of the total clothing exports from the EU-15 to the Gulf Countries, which rose by 13 per cent in value to € 718 Million, last year. “We are very pleased with this
performance because it shows that the period of stagnation and uncertainty in the fashion markets of the Gulf region is over”, Döpfer said. As he further stated, a dynamically expanding business environment accompanied by further increasing demand for European Fashion offers traditional suppliers and newcomers tremendous sales
opportunities for the order season of spring and summer collections 2006, which will be promoted at PRESTIGE. “With Dubai as a hub, the United Arab Emirates are playing an ever increasing role in the distribution of European and international fashion
and footwear brands in the Gulf” said Michael Mueller, Managing Director of planetfair llc, Dubai, organizers of PRESTIGE.

According to planetfair, with headquarters in Hamburg, Germany, the bright prospects for the fashion market in the Gulf are driven by specialized trading companies operating simultaneously as import distributors and investors in the development of
mono-brand and multi-brand retail chains. “Although Dubai is seen as a trend setter for the expansion of corporate sales space for fashion and footwear, other capitals like Abu Dhabi, Doha, Manama or Muscat are getting rapidly integrated in the process” said Ingo Kloever, Managing Director of planetfair in Hamburg. “And of course, its all connected with the boom in the construction of new shopping malls mushrooming everywhere in the region”, he added.

Due to the rising importance of shopping malls, planetfair announced to organize a pan-Arabic conference, which will be held in parallel to PRESTIGE in the Dubai World Trade Centre under the title “The Future of Fashion Retailing in the Gulf Countries”. Apart from other trade issues the conference will focus on the development and implementation of franchising and store-partnerships for fashion and
footwear in the field of mono-brand, multi-brand and shop-in-shop concepts. Local and internationally renowned experts will participate as conference speakers. The tentative program of the conference is now accessible on the Internet under the address www.prestige-dubai.com. “A major aspect of the conference is that leading fashion and footwear brands will present their individual concepts to create
vertical alliances with the local retail trade” said Ingo Kloever.

According to planetfair, the third edition of PRESTIGE will attract again some 160 European and internationally renowned brands of menswear, womenswear, childrenswear, lingerie, footwear and accessories to Dubai. Last collections for the season
Spring/Summer 2006 will be displayed on a floor space of 4 000 square meters. The trade fair will be structured into country pavilions incorporating exhibitors from Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Hong Kong,
Italy, Lebanon, Mexico, Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and the USA. A series of catwalk shows will highlight the event. PRESTIGE will not be open to the public and is strictly reserved for
professionals from the fashion and footwear trade.

Web Site = http://www.prestige-dubai.com

Contact Details = planetfair GmbH+ Co.KG,
Gertigstr. 48
D-22303 Hamburg
Phone: +49(0)40-71 00 70 10
e-mail: prestige@planetfair.de