Danish fair CIFF acquires control of Revolver trade show
The trade show scene in Copenhagen is becoming unified. After a decade of being held concurrently, the CIFF and Revolver fairs will become part of a single project and will be held jointly starting with the upcoming summer edition. CIFF's management announced the acquisition of its main local competitor, the Revolver trade show, on Friday, January 6. Financial details of the transaction have not been disclosed.
"This union will make us one big family. We hope that this acquisition will strengthen Copenhagen's position as the Scandinavian fashion capital even more as we will become the only fashion fair in the region. Our fashion is working and experiencing great momentum at the moment, so we want these synergies to free up resources so we can concentrate on our brands and buyers rather than competing with each other," said Sofie Dolva to FashionNetwork.com about the recent acquisition.
Named CIFF's new director last summer, when she took over from her predecessor, Christina Neustrup, she will now lead the organization of both fashion events. The founder of Revolver and former driving force behind the event, Christian Maibom, will continue to be part of the project as "right-hand man" and creative director.
"I am thoroughly proud of this solution. It took willpower, time and hard work from all parties to reach this goal," Maibom said via a statement. "By uniting each of the two organizations' unique qualities, we can deliver a fantastic and future-proof framework which I personally and together with the rest of the Revolver team very much look forward to being a part of," he added.
The first joint edition to be held this coming summer
"We will continue to work closely together, just as we have done throughout the last two months of negotiations, in which we have gotten to know each other better and shared thoughts and ideas on how to move forward. We are confident that we will build a positive dynamic that will enable the successful integration of our different cultures," detailed Dolva about the collaboration in the form of a coordinated and unified platform, which will involve the merger of staff from both shows into a single team that will work at the hitherto CIF headquarters in the Bella Center space. The first joint edition will take place this coming summer.
According to the manager, this alliance will preserve the differentiated names of both events but under a "combined identity". The acquisition will also entail changes in terms of venues: the "Forum" location, which brought together some of the men's and women's fashion brands presented at Revolver, will shut down. However, the fair will keep its iconic space in Øksnehallen, located in the central Vesterbro district.
Meanwhile, CIFF will continue to be held at the Bella Center exhibition center, located on the outskirts of the capital. "We believe in the need for two distinct locations, one in the heart of the city and a large hub at Bella Center," the director explained.
On international partnerships, Revolver will continue its collaboration with the Florentine Pitti Uomo event, which began in 2018. Entitled "Scandinavian Manifesto," the project allows the Danish fair to introduce a group of Scandinavian brands to buyers and attendees of the Italian fashion event.
Both events will hold their upcoming winter editions simultaneously, from February 1 to 3, and will have a new shuttle bus service between the two locations to make it easier for visitors to get around. Copenhagen Fashion Week will also bring the capital city to life, from January 31 to February 3, hosting shows by brands such as Ganni, Stine Goya and Saks Potts.
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