Balkan Apparel and Textile Exhibition

Visitors

Amongst the foreign visitors to the fourth edition of the Balkan Apparel and Textile Exhibition - BGate - 2006, there were both representatives of trade chains looking for manufacturers of ready made apparel and manufacturers interested in partnership with  Bulgarian producers on CM and CMT basis. Mrs Ania Probe - a journalist from the most popular German specialized publication TextilWirtschaft and Mrs Niki Tite - a journalist from Apparel Press (UK) - came over especially for that exhibition.

The exhibition was visited by companies from France, Germany, Spain, Turkey, Italy, Romania, Denmark, Serbia, Macedonia, the Czech Republic, Greece, Switzerland, The Netherlands, the UK, Hungary and others. A French delegation of businessmen arrived at the invitation of the management of BAATPE. Amongst the foreign visitors were the second and third biggest Spanish companies in the sector - Induyco and Groupo Cortefiel. According to the organizers, foreigners' interest has increased due to the growing popularity of the exhibition and the advertising campaign, as well as to the fact that exhibitors invited their foreign partners.

Apart from the increase in the number of foreign visitors, it was also noted that this year they came to the exhibition with clear business intentions and specific goals. The exhibition was mainly visited by companies from Western and Central Europe with a particular interest in buying apparel from Bulgaria, rather than regional companies importing apparel to Bulgaria and investigating the market or the competition.

Some of the foreign visitors of BGate: 

            Foreign visitors divided by countries

Apart from an increase in the number of foreign visitors, this year's BGate exhition has reported more visitors from Bulgaria, as well as tradesmen and manufacturers of apparel. The exhibitors' impression is that BGate, which is a business to business oriented and specialized exhibition, attracts serious visitors from the sector.  

Exhibitors

Within an area of 4000 sq m, the exhibitors at BGate showed their latest products and trends in the sector - from the ready made goods to all materials, accessories and equipment necessary for manufacturing apparel, textile and tailoring supplies.

120 direct participants and representatives of established companies presented the next season's fashion, ready made apparel, knitted wear, textile, yarns, accessories, software, machinery and equipment. There were 27 new participants in the exhibition. 17 Turkish companies jointly participated in the exhibition. They showed their products - knitted wear, yarns, fabrics, apparel and accessories, textile and clothing auxiliary materials etc.

• Ready made and knitted wear /own trade mark or manufactured from materials supplied by the client/

45 companies presented their exhibits.

Well known companies from the Bulgarian fashion sector and other participants from the sector showed the latest trends in men's, women's and children's fashion: the companies showed their new collections of both ready made apparel and knitted wear. Established companies presented new apparel brands and clothes lines. Evening apparels provoked huge interest during the fashion shows.

• Textile, yarns, accessories and auxiliary materials for tailoring - 52 companies decorated stands in this part of BGate.

The companies in this sector were pleased with a variety of good quality textile products. Many Turkish and Bulgarian companies in this sector showed main and auxiliary types of textile, yarns, clothes, knitted and printed fabrics, linings, laces and trade marks and labels, interlinnings. There was also a huge variety of textile accessories - passementerie and haberdashery, and auxiliary materials - buttons, rings, zips, springs, waddings, waist bands, sewing needles and threads, embroidery patterns, decorations, hangers etc.

• Companies offering services, software and equipment - 23 companies demonstrated modern machinery and equipment, software and CAD/CAM systems for the clothing industry.

Professionals in the apparel industry had the opportunity to get familiar with the new trends in equipment, which were demonstrated by the distributors of the world's biggest textile and sewing equipment manufacturers. It included the following: professional sewing machines, ironing, tailoring, knitting, embroidery and thread rewinding equipment, laser equipment for cutting and engraving, spare parts, devices and appliances for a wide range of machinery and equipment.

For the purposes of better functioning of the enterprises for ready made apparel, many companies offered advanced software and CAD/CAM systems /thorough solutions or software for design, drawings, modern design solutions, engraving, marking, embroidery design etc./ and CAD services.

The participants in the exhibition also offered the textile business a wide choice of services - washing, modern and advertising textile printing, special effects for textile products, dying and spooling of yarns, dressing and finishing, knitting etc. Logistics and freight forwarding services, maintenance and even information seminars and training were offered for specialists too.

Percentage of exhibitors by branches

Accompanying Programme

The exhibition has now become a tradition to meet the Bulgarian apparel manufacturers. Also traditionally it was accompanied by fashion shows:

• The official opening of the exhibition was accompanied by an impressive Fashion Show of some exhibitors: Etere, Mir, Markam, New Style, Magic, Brunelli and Confector;
• The company „Markam" organized their own show to present their new spring - summer collection for 2007;
• Design graduates from the New Bulgarian University also showed their collections at their own show on the first day of the exhibition.

An informational session on the current economic and social situation in Bulgaria and conditions and rules for foreign investment was held for the foreign guests of the exhibition. The lecture was given in French by Boryana Mincheva from the Bulgarian Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion Agency and interpreting into English was provided.

THE COMPANIES WHICH TOOK PART IN THE FASHION SHOW AT THE OPENING OF "BGATE 2006":

ETERE

The new collection for the summer 2007 season of "Etere" addresses the world fashion trends and surprises with huge variety and interesting design. The feeling of a romantic trip, high standing and spontaneous Bohemian chic are the key elements of the collection. The colours are natural, earthly, with bright highlights. The silhouettes are plump, accomplished; the skirts are luxuriant and bulky, contrasting and with tightened waist. Frills, nervures, laces, bright accessories and slits additionally enrich the apparel. The new collection of the designer Emilia Kostova caters to the whims of every contemporary woman.

MIR

The company "Mir" JSC - Haskovo, a sought after partner in our country and abroad, has half a century traditions of manufacturing men's shirts. Their new collection of men's shirts covers the preferences of different age groups. The models are presented in several main lines, with different colours, structures, and forms. They provoke interest with quality and style. The materials are in conformity with the high requirements to the contemporary apparel and meet the laws on environment. The constructions offer comfort and freedom of movement. The variety of styles allows traditional and venturesome combinations. The new collection of "Mir" is devoted to "finding pleasure in simple things of everyday life".

MARKAM

The fashion house "Markam" - the holder of the Fashion Academy's award for fashion business and enterprise "Golden Mercury 2006" - has been offering the Bulgarian and world markets high quality wear from its season collections for 16 years now. The elegant apparel is preferred by ladies with a good taste in our country, Russia, the EU member-state and southeastern Europe. After an extremely successful presentation of his new collection "Spring/Summer 2007" in Moscow, Nikolay Buzov - the designer of "Markam" - presented 12 models of it at "BGate 2006".

NEW STYLE

The company „New Style" from the town of Plovdiv presented models from its new collection „STYLE". Natural high quality materials, such as mercerized cotton and rayon, are used. The collection is in the modern colours for this season. The models allow elegant comfort and good self-confidence.

MAGIC

The company „Magic" from the town of Ruse has been on the Bulgarian market since 1990. It is mainly oriented towards fulfilling foreign assignors' orders. The two factories of the company manufacture the full range of apparel - knitted wear, skirts, trousers, blouses, dresses, jackets and coats. Recently the company „Magic" has started manufacturing its own collections. Its new models will enchant you with their sex appeal and feminine charm. The collection of the designer Biserka Marcheva is developed with vigour; it dynamically combines different times, silk velvet, leather, brocade, plumes and stones "Svarovsky".

BRUNELLI

"Brunelli" - the shirt a man wears, the shirt the business wears. "Brunelli" - a convincing success story which started in 1962 and continues in the present. The company's drive to perfection manufactured the shirt, which is known in two continents and more than twenty countries. Through the new textile technology, the trade mark offers shirts of breathing textile materials, which do not crease. The shirts of "Brunelli" are elegant.

CONFECTOR 21

The luxury collection of formal men's trousers manufactured by the company "Confector" - these trousers are for businessmen.

Sponsors

The fourth edition of the Balkan apparel and textile exhibition "BGate 2006" was held in cooperation with:

• The golden sponsor - the company "TRANSLAND" - Thiel Fashion Lifestyle was presented at BGgate 2006 by its Bulgarian partners "TRANSLAND" LTD. The company has specialized in transporting textile and apparel on hangers by its specialized vehicles. Due to the system of hangers fixed in them, the apparel is transported and delivered perfectly ironed, packed and ready to be directly distributed to the shops. All vehicles are equipped with a satellite system for following and managing them, which guarantees full information about their position. TRANSLAND offers professional logistic solutions and secure deliveries at competitive prices.
• The official freight forwarding agency of the exhibition was "MAYER and MAYER". MAYER and MAYER, a family enterprise with its main office in Osnabruck, Germany, was established in 1902. It started as a small transport company and grew to an international freight forwarding agency. With the help of strategic partners and subsidiary companies, MAYER and MAYER offers its clients the full package of services for the textile and clothing sector. Apart from international freight forwarding services for materials and apparel, storage, processing textile and description, MAYER and MAYER also offer some additional services - Value Added Services - such as labeling, fixing devices against thefts in shops, and if it is necessary, some minor tailoring services, to ensure that the apparel is perfect before it reaches its final destination - the client. Through its subsidiary company DTL - Deutsche Textillogistik - and as a member of Fashionnet AG MAYER and MAYER, it is part of the biggest distribution network for fashion and lifestyle products in Germany and Europe.
• The bronze sponsor - the fashion house "MARKAM" - For more than 16 years MARKAM has been offering the Bulgarian and world markets high quality wear from its season collections. The elegant apparel is preferred by ladies with a good taste in our country, Russia, the EU member-state and southeastern Europe. After an extremely successful presentation of the new collection "Spring/Summer 2007" at CPM in Moscow (6^th - 9^th September), the clients from Bulgaria and the region had the opportunity to see the ideas of the fashion house at BGate in Sofia. MARKAM presented its new 138 models for the new season at exhibition hall No. 3 of Inter Expo and the Congress Center on 6^th October.
• The German society for technical collaboration, GTZ Sofia, provided universities and secondary professional school specializing in textile and apparel with the opportunity to present themselves at the exhibition. The cocktail party for the opening of the exhibition was also held with their kind assistance.

We look forward to seeing you at the fifth edition of the Balkan apparel and textile exhibition - BGate - 2007 which is taking place from 4^rd to 6^th October 2007.