SMALLER BREAD & BUTTER: After weeks of rumors about the shaky state of the next edition of Bread & Butter in Berlin, founder and chief executive Karl-Heinz Müller confirmed that the trade fair will take place at its home base Tempelhof airport during Berlin Fashion Week from Jan. 19 to 21, albeit reduced from summer’s five halls to the main hall only.
Müller said in July that Bread & Butter will take off for a three city spin in 2015 — Barcelona in January, Berlin in July and Seoul in September, but withdrew from the Barcelona plans after consistent scepticism from the industry. The fair has met difficulties due to the receding presence of major denim brands at international trade shows over the last few seasons. More and more brands are scaling back their conventional wholesale businesses, focusing on their own retail and/or selling via big online players, while others have opted to go national in times of the euro crisis. However, some Bread & Butter regulars have shifted to other fairs. While about 200 brands, among others Nudie Jeans and Crocs Footwear, are staying at Tempelhof’s Urban Base, others like Edwin, Fred Perry, Tiger of Sweden or Fornarina, are moving to Berlin’s Seek, Premium or Panorama shows. Nevertheless, the overall brand portfolio in Berlin in January will be notably less jeans-centric than in past years.
Müller noted that this year’s fair will be a loss-making business for the once thriving institution, and that the Seoul spin-off is still at stake due to uncertain finances.