Lineapelle keeps growing: Buyers making moves and growing 2% in numbers, positive feelings, leadership well-established

An edition full of confirmations, consolidations, and good feelings related to both market and style. The 93^rd edition of Lineapelle, international Leather Fair (Fieramilano Rho, Oct. 4-6), gives out positivity for the future of the supply chain. The visitors, of 113 different countries, increased in number by 2%, surpassing 21,500 in total (21,687 to be precise). In addition, they restored the concept of a fashion system that, during the transformation, has moved its equilibrium towards leather: products catch the interest of buyers, and (for some), clear projects are once again present. The tense feelings regarding prices remain, but samplings are now not just focusing on ‘research’, but they are rather focusing on ‘order’. “We get better with each fair”, says Mirko Cara, owner of Gruppo Kara, based in Trezzano sul Naviglio (Milan). “Many clients stopped by the stand for a quick look of the new product lines, then planned their return to go into details”, continues Mr. Cara. “I saw an increased interest and attention for leather, its quality, which is more and more recognized and awarded”, states Bernardo Finco, owner of the tannery Adelaide di Bassano del Grappa (Vicenza), and president of the tanning-section of Confindustria for Vicenza (Italian employers’ federation and chamber of commerce). “Europe confirms its dynamicity, while China is behaving like Sleeping Beauty – continues Fico -. Generally speaking, there is trust for the ones that do good work”. “The fair went really well for us, – summarizes Roberta Castrovinci, of Ramponi (specialized in accessories for the footwear industry and leather goods), – even better than other editions we participated in. Winter is our season, and therefore there is more work for us, but I must say that this was a very positive edition for us”. “We met our clients, and we also met some new international ones, – says a spokesperson from Croc Top (Colombian tannery focused on crocodile leathers) -. We prefer the Milan-based fair to that of Paris: here we meet a more competent audience”. Next edition will take place from February 22^nd to February 24^th 2018, always in the pavilions of Fieramilano Rho.