From today until Friday, two of the world's most important and simultaneous fashion, leather and accessories events are showcasing materials and finished products at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. These trade shows - Materials, Manufacturing & Technology (MM&T), and Fashion Access - both organised by Asia-Pacific Leather Fair (APLF), pull in a substantial number of exhibitors and trade visitors.
At the same time, APLF is staging Prime Source Forum - an annual meeting, launched in 2006, targeting apparel industry senior executives. About 18,000 trade visitors are expected to attend all three events.
'The figures for this year's MM&T have increased 20 per cent and incorporate 82 new exhibitors,' says Perrine Ardouin, APLF event director. 'Launched 27 years ago, it has since become the most international leather fair in the world.'
With 1,235 exhibitors from 51 countries signed up to display their wares across more than 25,000 square metres, it is hard to imagine a larger expanse and variety of treated hides and skins and synthetic fabrics.
'Production figures clearly show that leather production is on the increase in Asia,' Ardouin says. 'It is a by-product of the meat industry and, while meat consumption is dropping in the West, it is increasing in Asia.
'Leather prices have risen recently, as have all commodities. However, there are all types of grades available and, whereas years ago people might save for months or years to buy a leather jacket, now at the lower end of the price scale people can easily buy, from superstores or other retailers in the mass market.