How to Find Fabrics For Your Clothing Line (Part 2)

If you read last weeks blog you’ll know how to get the most out of attending a large fabric trade fair…..You might already have attended last weeks London Textile Fair.

The next event on the calendar is Premier Vision New York which is on 20th and 21st July and Premier Vision Paris   21st to 23rd September.

PV New York,  held at Centre 415, 5th Avenue (bet 37 & 38th Streets), will have 200 exhibitors and highlight a new emphasis on sustainability highlighting responsible industry measures.

In addition to the huge selection of  fabric suppliers and agents they also have a new Smart creation area based on a global eco-responsible approach which is based on:

• Social and ethical responsibility
• Environmental performance
• Traceability
• Finishing & Dyeing processes
• Recycling technologies
• Organic content
• Alternative materials

Most fabric fairs are not only the best place to source fabrics at wholesale price they are also a good place to discover the seasons major trends and colours to get inspiration for your next collection.  

At PV New York you can attend inspirational seminars, presentations and discussion panels to decrypt the new seasons trends & colours and find solutions to todays fashion challenges.     

Mood boards, exclusive colour ranges and materials will spark your imagination and help develop creative collections in tune with the times.

The vast selection can be overwhelming, so before attending check out my previous blog post for tips on preparing for your visit…..

….And, be disciplined…Only order fabrics you need.   You might feel a bit like a kid in a sweet shop but if you overspend on fabrics just because you like them it will eat into your business’s profits.   Or, if you order fabrics that you love but that don't align with your collection, or even your brand then you will just confuse and ultimately loose your customer and followers.

Plan in advance.   Keep your goal, vision and collection theme in mind and keep within these parameters while selecting fabrics.

Premiere Vision, Paris is the Grande Dame of Fabric events and the physical show will take place 21st to 23rd September with a virtual show 20th to 24th.

Its the first physical show since the pandemic so if you feel safe it might be a good time to start attending these events and do some networking for your business.

PV Paris is GINORMOUS, so as I said in last weeks post wear comfy shoes.    They have thousands of woven & knitted fabrics, denims,  leather, yarns, accessories, print designs and also a manufacturing section to source new production suppliers.

The colour and trend displays at PV Paris are outstanding and this season for example they are following an project dedicated to the preservation and regeneration of coral reefs.  Jeremy Gobe discovered a traditional bobbin lace pattern resembling one of the coral skeletons used in his experiments.  Since the lace had the same qualities of roughness, suppleness and transparency as the coral this led to a fantastic idea to use the lace as a support to allow the coral to regenerate.   

You can find an Autumn Winter 22/23 trend teaser on the PV website which they say is “driven by a desire to pool energies…and combine expertise”.  

I was pleased to hear that A/W 22/23 is going to be a colourful season with a positive spontaneity.   The seasons’ colours convey the vibrant energy of fantasy, delicately balancing energetic intense tones:

• Warm tones inspired by the richness of fertile earth and a fleshy velvetiness.  
• Subtle reflections in the form of lustrous fur
• The faded sheen of soft metal.
• Orange tones bring a dazzling luminosity to winter with an energetic, vitamin-powered boost.
• Paleness tinged with artificial luminescence
• Darkness warmed by deep brownish tones and dizzying purplish shades.
• Greyish hues lend a tinted softness.
• Smoky pigmented hues evoke a sense of familiarity.

Eurostar have a reduced timetable due to coronavirus restrictions, so the one day trip from the UK is no longer a worthwhile option.     You can drive, stay overnight or, it in now way compares to the physical show, you can check out the virtual site from the comfort of your own home.

So Happy Fabric Hunting!!!

I would love to see what you create so please do drop me a line with details of your exciting new collection and what inspired you!!!

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Lots of Love and Support,

Jane

XOXO

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