Milano Unica’s visitor figures on par with February 2016

By

Dominique Muret

Translated by
Nicola Mira

Published
Feb 7, 2017

The 24th edition of Milan's benchmark trade show for Italian textiles, Milano Unica, has ended on 3rd February. The organisers reported in a press release that exhibitors were in general satisfied with the event, though they did not provide details of visitor numbers. They simply said that the "result was altogether on par with the February 2016 edition," despite the date clash with competitor event Munich Fabric Start, which caused a 44% shortfall in German visitors at Milano Unica.

The event marked a major come-back of companies from the Russian Federation, whose numbers rose by 34%. Equally remarkable was the increase in buyers from Canada (+29%) and the rise in companies coming from China (+6%) - despite the fact that the show was held during the Chinese New Year period - as well as from the UK (+4%) and the USA (+2%).

Instead, Milano Unica lamented a decrease in visitors from France (-11%), Japan (-14%) and Turkey (-1%), besides the diminished German presence.

In terms of exhibitors, Milano Unica’s 24th edition, dedicated to fabrics and accessories collections for Spring/Summer 2018, enjoyed a full house: 427 textile companies were on show, of which 300 from Italy, 65 from elsewhere in Europe, 40 from Japan and 22 from Korea.

The next Milano Unica sessions are scheduled on 15th-17th March in Shanghai, for the 11th Chinese edition, and back in Milan on 11th-13th July, for the show's 25th Italian edition.

The latter session, showcasing the fabric collections for Autumn/Winter 2018-19, will be a key test for the Italian show, which has brought forward its dates from September to July, for the first time scheduling the event ahead of the others.

Despite the date change, Milano Unica will be held again at the same time as 'Origin, Passion and Beliefs', a show dedicated to suppliers and manufacturers of high-end semi-finished goods, as well as to small independent artisanal brands. It will also feature at the same time as Anteprima, the pre-collection show for Lineapelle, the event dedicated to leather, which will be hosted in an adjoining pavilion.