Material World, Technology Solutions Report Record Attendance

Organizers of Material World Miami Beach and Technology Solutions, held earlier this month in Miami Beach, Fla., reported a double-digit-percentage increase in the number of visitors to the shows, in addition to strong business leads for the 400 exhibitors, which included suppliers of fabrics, trims, technology and sourcing resources for the sewn products industry.

“Once again Material World brought together buyers and sellers, and experts and industry entrepreneurs for a week of business and learning,” said Kevin M. Burke, president and CEO, American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA), sponsor of Material World. “AAFA is pleased that attendance continues to grow and looks forward to the next Material World Miami Beach, April 21-23, 2009.”

Tim von Gal, executive vice president of Atlanta-based Urban Expositions LLC, producer and owner of the two colocated events, reported exhibitors were very pleased with their outcomes. “The traditionally strong regional participation coupled with an expanded global presence really attracted a larger attending audience,” he said. “With so much discussion about the economy over the past few months, it was very refreshing to see such busy aisles and to hear about so much business being placed at the show.”

Attendees also were attracted to the educational programs, which included a special forum on Western Hemisphere trade presented by the US Department of Commerce Office of Textiles & Apparel, and AAFA’s headliner program titled “The Politics of Trade, among other presentations.

A Trend Pavilion on the show floor presented Spring/Summer 2009 color, fabric, trim and texture trends, using samples provided by Material World exhibitors. Country and region pavilions presented exhibitors from their respective parts of the world, including China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Haiti, India, Korea, Pakistan and Taiwan among others.

April 22, 2008