Première Vision's July Move is a success, with 10% more visitors than in February

PARIS – From July 5 to 7, in a brief break between record temperatures that are once again hitting France, Première Vision's physical fall-winter 2023-2024 show marked an acceleration and cooperation across the industry to address climate impact in the fashion supply chain.

Meanwhile, designers applauded the major shift in the World Textile Show schedule from July to September.

"It's better for our schedule, it works better for production and for early previews," said Amanda Goss, senior designer at The North Face.

"September was impossible; delivery times are much longer now, so July is much better for our supply," agreed Jane Seim, creative director and founder of skiwear brand Cordova.

Even menswear designers, with little break between shows and the launch of the next collection, welcomed the change. "I held my show two weeks ago, so it's close but at the same time, it's a chance to start again quickly, so it's an advantage," said Walter Van Beirendonck.

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"This show is awesome in July. We were able to combine Winter 23, Spring 24 and Winter 24, so we're doing three seasons here," agreed menswear designer Nigel Cabourn. we're doing three collaborations in addition to our own product, so we have to look at a lot of fabrics, so the fact that it's two months early is better."

Cabourn cited fleeces at Texapel and the creations of Riccardo Bruni for Lyria among its flagship collections.

"The collections are ready, which was the most difficult point to get through from mid-September to early July," said Gilles Lasbordes, Managing Director of Première Vision.

Despite being held back between airport strikes, with a city transport strike on its second day, 23,377 fashion professionals visited the show, up 10% from February , and double that number connected to the digital market.

Browsing nearly 1,200 exhibitors, up a third from the September 2021 show, 69% of design teams were international, with a strong return of US and South Korean visitors. Brands and exhibitors from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan remained absent due to quarantine rules.

In a context where global warming is already having an impact on supply - intense droughts have damaged cotton crops in the United States and India this year - the world textile show has made environmental performance a priority, with a new Eco Innovations Forum adjacent to its Smart Creation section.

Design teams browse leather options in the new Eco Innovations Forum. Alex Gallosi/Courtest of Premiè

"We are working to help brands make better choices in their supply chain," Lasbordes said, noting the introduction of guided tours to help brands navigate the Eco Innovations Forum. "While large fashion groups have dedicated teams and engineers to drive approaches to meet their sustainability commitments, smaller brands essentially need to gain an understanding of engineering to manage the issues at play in the supply chain,” he said.

With physical presentations of the fabrics, breaking down the criteria for each material, through recycling, natural dye, biopolymers, biodegradability and more, the area was...