MONTREAL — The 25th annual edition of the North American Fur & Fashion Exhibition will take place here from April 29 through May 2 at Place Bonaventure, with Russian buyers making up the largest foreign contingency.
The participation of 40 Russian retailers is an indication of how NAFFEM and the fur market have evolved, said Alan Herscovici, executive vice president of the Fur Council of Canada, the show’s organizer.
“We started out as a Canadian fur show, but now we’re an international outerwear show, including accessories,” Herscovici said. “Over 50 percent of attendees are American and international buyers, and about 30 percent of exhibitors also come from the U.S. Because the show is held in Canada, a lot of people think it’s only a local show, but it’s an international show.”
As for the anticipated Russian turnout, he chalked it up to that country’s strong economy and fur market.
“NAFFEM has also been working for the last 15 years with someone in that country to build up that contingent and it is paying off,” Herscovici said.
The keynote speaker is Pam Danziger, president of Philadelphia-based Unity Marketing, who will give a noontime seminar on May 1 called “How to Sell More to the New Luxury Consumer: Six Things Every Retailer Needs to Know.”
“There will be another seminar for the trade on the new consumer reassurance label by the International Fur Trade Federation called ‘Origin Assured,’ which was started through the auction houses to assure consumers of the origins of furs used in coats,” Herscovici said. “And again this year, there will be highlight fashion shows on the Sunday and Monday at noon featuring over 40 different exhibitors.”
Paris-based consultant Richard H. will speak about trends in the fur market at 8 a.m. on April 30 in the main exhibition hall.