#Textiles & Apparel / Garment
MAROC IN MODE – SOURCING MAROC showed increasing demand for fast fashion and price-sensitive sourcing
- 1.779 visitors from 22 countries looking for new fashion concepts and sourcing factories
- Morocco is on an accelerating race in the international sourcing competition
- Compact offer of Moroccan producers for denim, knits, tailored fashion in all categories as well as the other countries’ pre-suppliers
- New collaboration leading to an upcoming internationalization of the fair and an increasing of the Moroccan textile industry professionalism - New: Collaboration with Messe Frankfurt - New: Partnership with Portuguese Textile Association ATP
- Marrakesh: a melting pot of cultures – from luxury resorts to traditional riads – the YSL Museum the youngest highlight
With 1,779 visitors - 1,020 from Morocco and 759 from 22 countries - the trade fair organizers registered an increase of 19% compared to the previous year's exhibition. Regarding foreign visitors, France dominated with 23%, Spain with 17 % and Germany with 13% followed by visitors from Italy, Great Britain, Portugal, Russia as well as other European nations such as Austria, Belgium, Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland, Sweden. Africa was also represented by Algeria, Senegal, Mauritius and Tunisia, along with the USA.
Visitors were composed of all trading areas such as fashion retail giants, chain stores, online retailers or high-brand fashion manufacturers. All of them were focusing on looking for new creative production companies for fast fashion items, but also innovative productions such as ecological denim wear.
In addition, MAROC SOURCING provided an overview of international pre-suppliers coming from Africa, Europe and Asia.
Morocco is on an acceleration race for international fashion production
The Moroccan textile sector has taken a new pace, which is reflected in the diversity of Moroccan exhibitors at the fair. In 2016, there was an increase of 5% so that a record export of MAD 36 billion can be expected, commented Mohamed Tazi, General Director of AMITH.
Morocco recorded the 2nd best export performance to Europe in 2016 and achieved an increase of 9 % compared to the previous year. The Moroccan textile industry is the largest employer in Morocco: 183,000 permanent employees and 420,000 directly created jobs through 1.600 textile factories, including 1,300 with important export activities.
MAROC IN MODE: the showcase of the Moroccan garment industry
The Moroccan government is investing in Industry 4.0, with the support of the established ecosystems, which help to strengthen the professionalism of the Moroccan textile industry and other industries. So it increases the intelligent production mechanisms support for a more flexible, productive and optimized, but also more ecological production.
The layout of the fair was also innovative. For the first time, a white tent was set up on an area of 5,000 square meters and thus displayed on one level the various branches of the Moroccan offer: denim, knit, tailored fashion and fast fashion, as well as the offer of pre-suppliers.
The 128 exhibitors at MAROC IN MODE & MAROC SOURCING were very satisfied with the results of their participation. They praised the quality of the exchange and of the visitors at the fair. Most of the exhibitors offered FOB, CMT and their own collections.
Manufacturers and upstream suppliers from the leather sector were also present at the fair for the first time. This area will be expanded in the future.
The association strengthens the international network with new partnerships
ATP Portugal
The cooperation between AMITH and the Portuguese textile association ATP was formalized during the fair. Both Morocco and Portugal realized positive growth in their respective textile industry. In order to mobilize further synergies in the markets for high street fashion, the two associations will cooperate more closely. Together, they will set up a transnational ecosystem, putting public and institutional common goals towards increased transnational productivity. About 20 exhibitors from Portugal were represented at MAROC IN MODE.
Messe Frankfurt
Another memorandum of understanding was signed between AMITH and Messe Frankfurt. Messe Frankfurt, a leading trade fair organizer, will develop new perspectives for MiM & MS. This cooperation will focus on the Mediterranean countries and Africa in particular. Messe Frankfurt is already active in Ethiopia and South Africa. The win-win situation also implies that Morocco will reinforce its presence in Messe Frankfurt international trade shows.
Marrakesh – melting pot of culture, tradition & modernity
For most of the visitors, the newly opened Yves St. Laurent Museum was a must to visit during their presence in Marrakech. Within a stone’s throw from the Jardin Marjorelle, acquired by Yves St. Laurent and Pierre Bergé in 1980, the new building covering 4,000 sqm is more than a museum. Dedicated to the work of the great fashion designer, it preserves a share of the collection belonging to the Fondation Pierre Bergé-Yves Saint Laurent. There is a 400 sqm permanent exhibition space showcasing the work of YSL. The museum also houses a temporary exhibition space – with the first exhibition of the painter Jacques Majorelle, a research library with over than 6,000 volumes, a 150-seat auditorium, a bookstore and an outdoor café.
The facade of the building is designed as an intersection of cubes with a lace-like covering of bricks, creating patterns that recall the weft and warp of fabric. As with the lining of a couture jacket, the interior is radically different: velvety, smooth and radiant.
Marrakesh – rich in inspirations! Rich in textile experience!
MAROC IN MODE – MAROC SOURCING in Marrakesh – the place to be!
