Première Classe and Silmo establish a partnership

By

Sarah Ahssen

Published
Jan 22, 2016

Show organisers Première Classe and Silmo are playing the synergy card. In its next summer edition, starting on 2nd September 2016 at the Porte de Versailles exhibition centre in Paris, Première Classe will host a dedicated area for eyewear designers under the 'Silmo Paris' banner. The 300 m² area will group together some thirty brands, to be jointly selected by the two event planners.

The fashion accessories trade show features a range of products still chiefly focused on handbags, footwear and jewellery, and already hosts about fifteen eyewear brands. At the January edition, the latter will be pooled together for the first time in the same exhibition area. Thanks to the partnership with a highly regarded player in the optical industry, such as Silmo, Première Classe wished to strengthen its position in a segment which, year after year, is becoming a fashion accessory in its own right.

"Eyewear is a style segment and our visitors aren't optical industry professionals, they are fashion professionals," explained Sylvie Pourrat, Première Classe exhibition director. The new section will also contribute valuable information on the optical industry, which in France alone groups together 12,000 opticians.

"The purpose of this operation is to open a window on the future, and to introduce new avenues for eyewear distribution," added Xavier Clergerie co-founder of the Who’s Next Première Classe shows.

In its next annual edition, scheduled for 23rd to 26th September at the Villepinte exhibition centre, Paris, Silmo will feature an area for fashion accessories under the Première Classe label. It will be a way of complementing this partnership between the fashion accessories and the optical industry shows, both belonging wholly or partially, to Comexposium.

The format is still to be decided, but it is expected to feature some sort of concept store bringing together a selection of eyewear accessories. Also, Silmo has created a Première Classe award, allowing its winner to have a free booth at Première Classe.