England starts it summer marathon of fashion fairs

By

Anaïs Lerévérend

Published
Jul 13, 2014

The English fashion industry has a busy summer ahead with a very crowded calendar of trade fairs. Like last winter, moving up the dates for Scoop means that British buyers will have one month to take in four events, from Scoop to the last one, the Moda show in Birmingham. Here's a rundown of the fairs.

- Scoop International
The most trending show on British soil will hold its eighth edition this summer from July 13 to 15. The date is earlier than last year and a better slot on the international fashion calendar. The upscale and designer exhibition offers around 400 brands, ready-to-wear with accessories mixed in and located in two contemporary art venues: the Saatchi Gallery and the Phillips art auction house. Newcomers this year include Negarin, Otto'dame, Harris Wilson, Apologie and Paul & Joe.

- Jacket Required
Jacket Required will take place July 30-31 with menswear front and center. The show is continually expanding and this year set another new record with 170 fashion brands and accessories exhibitors. Initially positioned as a premium and heritage fair, a number of denim and jeans companies, including Diesel, Lee, Levi's and Cheap Monday, have especially contributed to the show's recent growth. The fair was smart to relocate to the renovated Old Truman Brewery building last winter, a larger space with two levels.

- Pure London
From August 3 to 5, its back to womenswear and Pure London, always held at the Olympia Hall. The event offers a reduced exhibition list of 650 brands, which it has pared down since last winter. The fair features more focused but diversified sections, representing every segment of women's ready-to-wear, plus more carefully screened and updated footwear and accessories sections. New standouts at Olympia include Bosideng, Lavand, Nice Things, Pomandere, InWear and PartTwo.

- Moda Birmingham
And finally, just like every season, the British trade fair party will finish up farther north, in Birmingham. This across-the-board trade show, considered to be the "heart of the market," is a more central location for British retailers. Once again it has brought together some one thousand women's and men's fashion brands, as well as lingerie, swimwear, shoes and even some kidswear.