In piazzale Re Astolfo from 15 to 17 November. In a tensile pavilion of 1.250 square metres, 44 companies, with over 6 thousand models exhibited. The rule is: one step at a time, with shared spirit and with no thought to compete with Pitti or Modaprima. But with great attention to details, marketing and web.
CARPI – Despite several innovations the spirit is always the same: to work as a team and cooperate all together for the textile district improvement. This is the concept reaffirmed several times during the press conference of Moda Makers, the fashion fair A/W 2017-2018, organized by the consortium Expomodena, promoted by the Entrepreneurs Associations Cna, Confindustria and Confartigianato Lapam with the cooperation of Promec and the support of Carpi Fashion System (the project coordinated by the Municipality of Carpi with the financial contribution of the Foundation CR Carpi), which will take place in Piazzale Re Astolfo from Tuesday 15 to Thursday 17 November.
Compared to the first edition, held at Villa Ascari last May, the numbers have grown . The exhibiting companies are 44 (38 of the district and 6 extra- region) instead of the previous 23 and, at present, the pre-registrations have already reached 400 and are expected to get to 600 vs the 320 total visits of last May. The size of the exhibition area too, a tensile structure of 1.250 square meters, increases, as well as the fashion creations set in the stands: from two to six thousands . Visitors will have the opportunity to “touch” a wide range of clothing and knitwear proposals, Autumn-Winter 2017-18, all made in Italy.
“The first edition was successful, a good initiative, carried out in a free, coordinated and effective way – affirmed Simone Morelli-. It has been a very good example of cooperation aimed to enhance the area and one of its excellences, namely the textile and apparel sector. To bring it in the historical centre is another bet”.
“With the aim to promote the area, we tried to create a system involving various external stakeholders on issues such as reception and hospitality – said Roberto Bonasi, president of Expomodena and manager of Cna Federmoda –. We signed agreements with hotels, restaurants, taxi and car service and arranged shuttle services to and from the AV Mediopadana Reggio Emilia Station. Moreover, we are creating a shopping bag which will be distributed to the guests with the fair catalogue and some promotional material about the city”.
The main scope of the event is to promote the Carpi district and attract buyers (wholesalers, private label, international clothing retail chains). All participating companies made available a database (managed by the Vistual Assistant Stefano Corradini -Pixel Storming) with the names of their foreign customers , who have been invited to Moda Makers. Cooperation and sharing are therefore the key -words of this exhibition, organized on request of the district companies which committed themselves for creating an event “tailored” to their needs.
“Again we made a team effort – added Bonasi -. Due to the success of the first edition we received many requests for participation so that, for reasons of space, we had to leave out about fifteen companies giving precedence to the ones of our district”. Given the boom of requests, why the organization hasn’t thought to a wider location, Piazza Martiri, for example? “We believe in a step-by-step and conscious growth” answered Bonasi, while the councillor Morelli for his part said “We do not exclude this possibility in the future, let’s see how it goes this edition”. Niko Mecugni and Fabrizio Stermieri participating to the “technical table” and owners respectively of Maglierie Ellegi e Maglieria Paola Davoli explained the reasons that led them, along with their colleagues from Carpi, to realize such an event. “Since some historical exhibitions as Moda Prima had some problems, especially on the side of promotion and web marketing – said Mecugni – we tried to set up a “tailored” event. The intention, however, is not to compete with Modaprima or replace Pitti Immagine; the objective is to offer a better organized event from a promotional point of view and with a more balanced cost-benefit ratio. The success of the first edition bettered us, giving us the opportunity to make ‘critical mass’ and be more attractive to foreign buyers.
“The participation to Moda Makers costs a third compared to Moda-prima – said Stermieri –; moreover ours is a self-managed and definitely smart fair: we are strongly focused on the technological aspects, starting with the massive digital marketing campaign made by regular newsletters with practical information. This customer focus is an element that makes the difference”. (Claudia Rosini)
VOCE, 10 November 2016
