CHIC Shanghai, March 12-14, 2019

·    Positive economic growth in China in the context of falling global growth rates.

·    Sales driver in terms of fashion, China's egotists, the young consumer generation in focus at CHIC

·    New shows-in show at CHIC: CHIC-TAILORING and CHIC- KIDZ, high-growth market segments

·    CHIC Special Service: VIP meetings with eCommerce platforms, showrooms, agents and buyers for international brands

From March 12 to 14, 2019, 1,365 national and international exhibitors with 1,453 brands from 16 countries and regions will attend the CHIC China International Fashion Fair, Asia's largest and most important fashion and lifestyle fair, at 117,200 square meters of exhibition space at the National Exhibition & Convention Center in Shanghai.

In the context of falling global growth rates, China remains the world's largest retail market in 2019, with forecast USD 5.6 trillion in retail sales, surpassing the USA by USD 100 billion this year. A recent McKinsey study  predicts  that  China  will  also  overtake  the  US  as  the  largest clothing market for the first time this year.

E-commerce is a key driver of China's retail market, and sales are expected to rise more than 30% to USD 1.898 trillion this year, meaning that China's online retail sales account for 35.3% of retail sales, by far the world's highest rate. In apparel and footwear, online sales are estimated to amount for 44% this year, climbing to 55% by 2020 according to PWC.

The sales drivers in fashion are still the Millennials, the consumers born in the early 80s and 90s, which make up 410 million people, more than the entire population of North America. They are Western-oriented and dispose of increasing incomes. China´s Generation Z (born at the end of '90, beginning of 2000) is considered self-confident and carefree, spending more than 15% of disposable household incomes on luxury goods. Individuality, authenticity and sustainability are values of Generation Y (born in the early 80s), which are important topics at CHIC.

The new consumer structure is integrated in the whole fair design at CHIC and this year´s slogan is "Hi Me", which was launched in cooperation with WGSN. It reflects the young Chinese consumer, the economic power house in the country.

The exhibitors' offer is increasingly focusing on the 'egotists', who act individually, fast and set the latest trends.

The designer section IMPULSES is fully booked, CHIC-TAILORING celebrates its premiere at the upcoming CHIC and presents high-quality bespoke collections; GREEN FASHION is a key topic at the fair, with more and more manufacturers presenting sustainable collections in all segments of CHIC. In particular, the manufacturers of baby and children's clothing are expanding their ecological offer to meet the consumer demand such as CHIC-KIDZ exhibitor GRASS AND WOOD DYEING ALLIANCE that is famous for its environmental dye technique offering healthy clothing for the cherished youngest generation. CHIC- KIDZ will also be presented for the first time as a separate section at CHIC as show-in show.

The Chinese market is highly diversified with regional differences and system requirements. Choosing the right partner is crucial for successful market entry. Representatives of all trade channels in China come to CHIC. The organizers intensively support the international participants with a special VIP visitor marketing. Over 100 exclusive trade contacts from all over China, agents and buyers for international brands, have been researched by CHIC especially for the international business since last autumn and a special matching program has been developed.

CHIC segments

In five halls, North Hall and Halls 1 to 4, the more than 1,300 exhibitors at CHIC in March present themselves in dedicated areas: Urban View, New Look, Heritage, Impulses, Fashion Journey, Superior Factory, Secret Stars, Shanghai Bag and Future Link as well as the five shows- in-show CHIC-Young Blood, CHIC-KIDZ, CHIC-TAILORING, Preview in China and PH-Value.

In the international field of FASHION JOURNEY, of the over 220 exhibitors the largest European participation is traditionally Italy. The Italian Pavilion presents 23 Italian brands of garments, bags, shoes and accessories: ACCADEMIA, ALESSANDRO GHERARDI,  ALESSIO BARDELLE, CASHEART MADE IN ITALY, DIS-DESIGN ITALIAN SHOES, DONNA LAURA VENEZIA, FABIANI, FLOWER MOUNTAIN, FONTANI, GIOVANNI FABIANI, IBICI & SEGRETA, IL GERGO, MANZONI24, NELLO SANTI, OMERO, PAOLO ALBIZZATI, PRIMIGI MADE  IN  ITALY,  SARA  KENT, SPERNANZONI,  SUPREMA, TIFFI, TRICOT CHIC, VIZIO.

The Italian Pavilion is supported by the Italian Trade Agency ITA with accompanying promotional measures, i.a. a lavishly designed catwalk with  several shows a  day in the pavilion. In addition, CALPIERRE, EDDYDANIELE, EVALUNA, DI FRANCO, DUEDI’, LEBLE’, RAFFAELE D’AMELIO participate as individual exhibitors in a separate area. The vivid  and  continuous participation  of  Italian fashion  brands in  CHIC underlines the strong involvement of the Italian fashion industry in the Chinese  consumer  market  and  its  belief  in  the  Chinese  market potential. Just as the exhibitors at the French pavilion Paris Forever, Maison Lener, Urbahia, or Chemin Blancs, all long-standing participants at the fair. As part of the foreign trade fair program of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, carried out by Messe Düsseldorf, the German companies present themselves under the roof "Made in Germany", for the first time with Vocier, exclusive travel baggage solutions for business travelers, and menswear label Fynch- Hatton.

Other group participations come from Korea with the show-in show PREVIEW  IN  CHINA,  Taiwan  and  Hong Kong.  Individual exhibitors come from Canada,  including the  premiere of  Joseph Ribkoff, from Belgium, Ecuador, India, Japan, Poland, Switzerland, the UK and the USA.

IMPULSES, the design division of CHIC, occupies the entire Northern Entrance Hall with young talents such as Eva Xu, Haofei Guo, Liying Jiang, Yuhao who have already caused a sensation on an international level. Yuhao´s creations are also worn by Lady Gaga. Chen Wen was awarded  China´s  most  important  fashion  price,  the  Jinding  Award. Yichao Zhang was named one of China´s top ten designers. A group participation  of  alumni  of  Beijing  Institute  Of  Fashion  Technology, Academy of Arts & Design of Tsinghua University includes Hua Mushen, Mao  Mart  Homme  and  ANJAYLIA  who  regularly  show  their  latest designs  at  CHIC.  They  are  presented  to  the  fashion  clientele  in  a special creative fashion ambience.

Menswear segment URBAN VIEW registers a growing number of exhibitors, 185 brands in total. Well-known companies such as GSON, LIANSE, ZUO, Hodo Group with its menswear, kidswear  and home collection use CHIC as the stage for their business in the market again. In the special exhibition area China Fashion Customization Exhibition representative companies such as Evo Pai Te, Long Sheng, Matthew Perry, Jayne and Micro present themselves. Denim is strong with 17 jeanswear companies from Dayong. A group participation of 12 casual wear companies from Shaxi will further add to the portfolio found at URBAN VIEW. Market leader Ruyi Group will participate in the match making program. NEW LOOK, the womenswear section, shines with more  than  200  brands   like  INXX,                                  MEILLEUR  MOMENT,  Eifini, TCOULMORE, JAC (from Canada), MUKZIN and Dankeyun.

For several seasons, Chinese menswear companies have been investing heavily in the tailoring sector, with the launch of CHIC- TAILORING taking this market development into account. For the first time more than 70 bespoke manufacturers will be exhibiting at CHIC in Hall 3 including KuteSmart (formerly RedCollar), DEEL KALL, Iwode, Longsailing, Dongting, SEAT, Saints Crocodile. Shirts will be presented by Tianchi, Paisley, Beikeman etc.

The new show-in-show CHIC-KIDZ will also be celebrating its premiere at the trade fair. The launch in March will see more than 50 exhibitors and  brands  including  market  leader  Balabala,  Xtep  Kids,  Jin  Tong Wang, EUROJJ, Hush Puppies, Haggis, SOUHAIT, Eton Kidd, Ou Cha Cha, San Yuan Yi, De Brand, Water Baby, Elephant etc. The collections show kidswear, teen fashion, school uniforms, kids swimwear, kids designer brands etc. Kidswear is a strong growth segment, not least due to the easing of the one-child policy in China.

CHIC-YOUNG  BLOOD  show-in-show is the  platform for well-known

Asian streetwear labels. Wookong, Pace, Jelly Lin, Coffee, CRUCIAL among  a  total  of  61  brands  use  CHIC  as  an  essential  marketing platform.

Over 130 exhibitors present the whole HERITAGE range: leather, fur and  downwear.  National  group  holdings  from  Xinji,  Tongxiang  and Yuyao occupy the largest areas of Hall 1. Down wear is presented by Fei Ling Fei Xun and Jack, Fan Nan Shang, Dashuo, Specials etc., modern leatherwear by Gordon Chic. Jackeifire, G.I.V.E., Nuozhi, Siwei Group, Zelefasa exhibit their latest looks.

SECRET STARS and SHANGHAI BAGS with accessories, footwear, bags and luggage, gather 43 brands in SHANGHAI BAGS including 10 shoe brands and 119 brands in SECRET STARS including Ruediger and Leonardo from Germany, EcuaAndino from Ecuador, Front from China Hongkong, Itarora from Italy, Because from Japan, Idaeamy from China Taiwan, handcraft  hat company Rofei.  Botanica will show its world of lifestyle products. The product range encompasses jewellery, hats, silk scarfs, gloves, sunglasses, scents, belts, beauty and personalized items.

FUTURE LINK exhibitors like Brother, Bailian, Amiou, Ziri, Qi Zhirui, Pumpkin Technology,    Le    Baobao,    Lichuan   Audio,    Guangzhou Changlong show innovative business solutions for the textile industry, from software technology to smart wear, logistics, intelligent printing.

CHIC SHOWS and CHIC TALK

CHIC drives exchange of market info and gives expert insights into the latest developments in the market. CHIC TALK provides visitors and exhibitors with expert speeches and seminars  on  the state of technology in the fashion business. Topics are „Driven by Data and AI, It Starts From the Consumer  Experience  --  the  Transformation  of Clothing Enterprises In the Data      Era”  (Jiangsu  Hugely DigitalITechnology  Co. ， Ltd.),  “The Scale  Solution  of  Personalized Fashion Design - YoungEasy 4.0 Central Pattern Room Management System Release” (Young Easy Fashion Design (Beijing) Co.,Ltd) etc.

CHIC  SHOWS         stage  the      latest   fashion          trends from    Lishow Womenswear  Original  Design  Release  Show  to  2019  Dalang  Cup China Women’s Fashion Design Contest and Yinji Fashion Show by Zhengzhou Yinji Department Store to the Overseas Brands Joint Release Show presenting the international design at CHIC.

CHIC SERVICES - in focus: visitor marketing for international brands

The organizers of CHIC offer the international participants an extensive visitor marketing program for an efficient market entry. It ranges from a match-making in the run-up to the event in which a selected clientele of approximately 50,000 contacts are informed with detailed information about the brands at CHIC; visitors can arrange appointments with manufacturers beforehand via the homepage of the trade show; the CHIC APP allows visitors to obtain targeted information about the fair offer on site.

The  fair  will  feature  VIP   meetings   with   the   Chinese   trade  for international manufacturers,  e.g.  with  online  retailers  like  TMall and JD.com, with  successful  retailers for international  brands  like  Ralph Lauren  Trade  Limited  (Shanghai),  with  showrooms  and  multibrand stores like The Mix Place, magmode, Lanhe, SOFREE, YCO, DONGLIANG, YANYI, play lounge etc. distributing international brands and with agents and buyers for international brands like  Mengdong International Group limited company (agency of Folli Follie) , Langhao Holdings  Limited  (agency  of  C-GANT  and  US  womenswear  brand Bebe),  Beijing  Jiaman  clothing  limited  (agency  of  Young  Versace, Armani Junior, Kenzo Kids), Shanghai Dirui clothing limited (agency of Hazzys) and Guangzhou Hesiting clothing limited (agency of Miss Sixty).

This  allows  for  exchange  with  market  experts  while  providing  the opportunity to make important contacts in the Chinese market.

Furthermore, at the expense of CHIC, about 100 VIP agents and buyers specialized in the distribution of international brands have been invited to  the upcoming event. The VIP Lounge at the fair is reserved for meetings with potential partners; while CHIC additionally creates individual visitor groups for the FASHION JOURNEY area and will actively introduce them to the exhibitors.

CHIC SHANGHAI, the reliable partner for the fashion business in China

See you soon at CHIC from the 12th to the 14th of March!