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 SIMM - Interview with Didier Parakian |
Interview with Didier Parakian
President of the French Women's Prêt-à-Porter Federation
In order to mark France's status as Guest Country at the sixty-first edition of SIMM between 12th and 14th February 2009
 Madrid (IFEMA), 10th January 2009 — SIMM, the Madrid International Fashion Fair, a leading event in Spain within the field of fashion and one of the three most important fairs of its kind in Europe, will continue its initiative to select a GUEST COUNTRY at this edition. This programme started back in February 2008 when Portugal was chosen as the Guest Country, whilst the July 2008 edition of the fair featured the special participation of Brazil. The forthcoming sixty-first edition will now feature the attendance of France as Guest Country at SIMM, based on this country's importance within the realm of international fashion.
Featuring some 500 exhibitors and more than 1,000 Spanish and international collections, not to mention a net exhibition area measuring 25,000 m2 and more than 20,000 trade visitors, SIMM will confirm its status as one of the leading fashion fairs in Spain. Being able to count on the special participation of France, "The Cradle of International Fashion", in its capacity as "GUEST COUNTRY" is a veritable honour for SIMM.
Today we enjoyed the opportunity to speak to DIDIER PARAKIAN, a long-time exhibitor at SIMM and President of the French Women's Prêt à Porter Federation, in order to discover his opinion regarding the fact that FRANCE has been chosen as Guest Country at the February 2009 edition of SIMM.
- WHAT DOES THE SPANISH MARKET MEAN TO THE FRENCH FASHION INDUSTRY?
"After many years of trade between the two countries, Spain represents an important and reliable companion for French fashion, one of considerable economic value. In effect, for a large number of our companies Spain is the most important client at an international level."
- WHAT VALUE DOES SIMM HAVE FOR FRENCH EXHIBITING COMPANIES?
"SIMM is an essential point of reference for French companies in Spain.
This fair, which constitutes a leading event in Europe, brings together more than 76 French companies (compared to an average of 45 exhibitors at other European fairs), including a number of important brands, such as the following: AB.Paris, Amour de Pin Up, Baia, Bony, Cottonade, Dellauie, Didier Parakian, Lauren Vidal, Le Cottonier, Madame Zaza of Marseille, Rosa Rose, Robert Faure, Sa Marjorie, Scadelle and Zapa Zas (among many others).
- WHAT IS YOUR OPINION REGARDING THE FACT THAT FRANCE HAS BEEN CHOSEN AS THE GUEST COUNTRY AT SIMM?
"For us, the exhibiting companies at SIMM, it is a great honour to be chosen as participants in the Guest Country Programme, especially at a fair that is of priority importance to France, given that Spain is undoubtedly one of our main markets"
- IN ITS CAPACITY AS GUEST COUNTRY, HAS FRANCE SET UP ANY SPECIAL
PROMOTIONAL INITIATIVES FOR THE FEBRUARY 2009 EDITION OF THE FAIR?
"We plan to take part with an institutional area measuring 100 square metres, a space designed to promote French fashion. In this area we will place a special emphasis on design, as well as offering visitors champagne and the delights of French music (ranging from great operas to the most famous French "chansons"). Plasma screens and Internet connections will help visitors to gain access to our new fashion sites
... In addition, the "Vive La Mode" Card will provide a direct link with the world of fashion in France. We will also offer various gifts to visitors, whilst the staff at SIMM will wear items from our French collections"
- WHAT IS THE CURRENT SITUATION REGARDING FRENCH FASHION IN SPAIN AND WHAT ARE THE FUTURE PROSPECTS?
"Spain constitutes a market of considerable importance to France. In the year 2007, Spain imported around 290 million euros worth of Prêt à Porter fashion from France, which represented an increase of 9.8%
compared to the year 2006. These figures are extremely positive. In this respect, initiatives such as that being taken at SIMM for this forthcoming edition in order to showcase French fashion will undoubtedly provide an important impetus when it comes to pursuing the beneficial relationship we have with the Spanish market".
SIMM
www.simm.ifema.es |
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