Top international fashion brands to showcase at PRESTIGE 2005

The exhibition is aimed at the high-end fashion market and runs from September 17- 19.

Taking place at the Dubai World Trade Centre, PRESTIGE 2005 will provide an opportunity for buyers, retailers, distributors and sales mediators from around the Gulf to meet with leading international fashion houses and designers. More than 150 top fashion brands will bring the latest trends in womenswear, menswear, lingerie, footwear, swimwear and children's wear from their 2006 Spring/Summer collections to the UAE.

'The region's retail sector is witnessing unprecedented growth, and new retail space is coming online at the premium end of the scale. *According to recent reports, the GCC's retail market is valued at AED165.2 billion, and Dubai's 1.2 million residents and 5.42 million visitors spend AED31.37 billion annually. The growth in the sector and increasing demand for high fashion and luxury goods show the market potential for new international brands,' said Michael Mueller, Managing Director, planetfair Dubai LLC.

'With the number of new shopping malls and retail outlets being built in the region, PRESTIGE is an opportunity to exhibit brands to an audience committed to bringing the region to the forefront of fashion,' said Mueller.

This year, exhibitors from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Lebanon, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, Holland and the United States have confirmed their participation. PRESTIGE 2005 has also been chosen to showcase exclusive collections of a group of fashion designers with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council under the theme 'Hong Kong in Style'.

Running alongside the exhibition, planetfair has also organised a one-day seminar on the development of store partnerships and franchise concepts on September 17 from 5.00pm to 9.30pm. Brands such as Mustang jeans and casual wear, and Carlo Colucci (designers from Germany) will demonstrate hi-tech shop-systems and customer care policies.

The seminar will also include presentations by international retail experts on best practices in managing and operating fashion stores and malls. Import distributors, trading companies, investors in mono and multi-brand fashion retail outlets, mall developers and independent retailers are invited to register for the seminar.

'This is the first retail seminar organised by planetfair. We plan to make the seminar a regular feature to help establish a permanent dialogue between fashion suppliers and customers,' said Ingo Kloever, Managing Director, planetfair, Germany.

PRESTIGE 2005 will run from 10.00am to 1.00pm, and 5.00pm to 9.00pm from September 17-19 in Hall 4 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.