| Research and Markets: Some Italian Fabric Manufacturers Reported a Drop in Sales of Around 30% in the First Four Months of 2009, and a Fall in Exports to the USA of up to 50% |
| BUSINESS WIRE 08 February 2010 |
 DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/f1eff9/survey_of_the_euro) has announced the addition of Textiles Intelligence's new report "Survey of the European Fabric Fairs for Autumn/Winter 2010/11" to their offering.
The European fabric fairs for the autumn/winter 2010/11 season took place against a background of difficult trading conditions. Some Italian fabric manufacturers reported a drop in sales of around 30% in the first four months of 2009, and a fall in exports to the USA of up to 50%. With one exception, the depressing economic climate was reflected in the size of the fairs in terms of exhibitors and visitor numbers. Companies are restricting their travel budgets and sending smaller buying teams to these events. Buyers are placing smaller orders while they wait to see how trade develops. The one exception was Munichs Fabric Start, a fair which has been gaining steadily in importance in recent years. In this business environment, it might be expected that fabric manufacturers would play safe and restrict their investment in new ideas. But that is far from being the case. The most striking impression to emerge from the two main European fairs, Milano Unica and Premire Vision, was the creativity and innovation of the products on show. One interesting change is that fabrics are gaining weight. For some time, fabric manufacturers have been striving towards lightness and airiness. But now fabricswoollens in particularare becoming more compact, firmer and heavier. Another strong trend is an old idea, rather than a new one. Country tweeds in traditional patterns and colours, a style summed up as the British look, are very much in vogue. UK mills which specialise in producing modern versions of these classic fabrics were among the most upbeat of exhibitors. Moreover, UK mills are being given an advantage over their European competitors by the weakness of sterling relative to the euro. Key Topics Covered:
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