Arguably one of the most leading-edge fashion trade shows in the world, Bread & Butter in Berlin always offers a high dose of innovation and prestige when it comes to what’s taking place in street, urban, and upper urban fashion. Today, January 15, 2013, the show launched with an enormous crowd seeking to discover the latest from the 560 brands selected to exhibit their Fall/Winter 2013 collections at the show.
As announced several months earlier, the show had decided to cut-back on the amount of brands exhibiting for many reasons. However the new version, including changes in the layout of the show itself, has already been deemed a success. Among the portfolio of brands at Bread & Butter include over 100 newcomers like G-Shock, Barbour Ladieswear, Bellerose, Napapijri, Joop!, FTC Cashmere, Roeckl, Sam Edelman and Stewart’s and more than 50 re-entries such as Dickies, EMU Australia, B.D. Baggies, Crocs, Gestuz, Kuyichi, Moon-Boot, Oilily, Woolrich, Schott NYC, Levi’s Vintage Clothing, Onitsuka Tiger, Evisu and SilvianHeach, to name a few.
In its 28th edition, Bread & Butter is also very much about networking and creative inspiration, and started with a kick-off gala last night at the Metropol Berlin featuring Nina Hagen and DJ Sven Vaeth, among others. Top brand leaders in denim and urban fashion mingled in the chilly evening, drinking champagne and enjoying the entertainment before the business begins, with the show running at the former airport, the Berlin Tempelhof from January 15-17, 2013.
The show also starts with a press conference featuring Bread & Butter show co-founder and director, Karl-Heinz Muller who discusses what the show’s all about and where they plan to head in the future.
Karl-Heinz Müller: “The sharpening of our profile was an essential step. We are very glad that our modified concept has been so well embraced and that we can present our international visitors a focused and significant brand portfolio – the best you could find in contemporary street and urban wear at the moment.”
The high participation of foreign exhibitors (88%) underlines the status of BREAD & BUTTER as the leading international platform in Europe. The most represented countries and regions are Scandinavia with 19%, United States with 14%, United Kingdom with 13%, Italy with 11% and France with 8%.
In terms of the outlook for 2013, Karl-Heinz Müller announced several innovations to the show, one of which will be a new concept for women that will be launched in July 2013. The new women’s area will follow the role model of L.O.C.K. and the very successful retail concept of 14 oz. Berlin. More detailed information about the special presentation of this novelty will follow shortly after the show.
Another innovation for July 2013 will be the establishing of a fee for non-buyers. Karl-Heinz Müller: “A tradeshow is a marketplace that first and foremost brings buyers, in this case our visitors and sellers, our exhibitors, together. BREAD & BUTTER has become an international melting pot for the whole textile industry, but also for areas of interest beyond it”. Today, numerous allied segments such as sourcing, production, marketing and advertising for example use BREAD & BUTTER for their business purposes. There are also many tradeshow organizers of all sectors seeking inspiration at the “tradeshow for selected brands”. Karl-Heinz Müller: “Everybody is still welcome, but it is only fair if special interest visitors make an adequate contribution to the business that they do at BREAD & BUTTER.” The fees will be invested in developing appropriate services. “Everyone knows that BREAD & BUTTER does not just take but always gives something back”, states Müller.
Karl-Heinz Müller also announced the relocation of the BREAD & BUTTER Headquarters to the Cumberland House at Berlin’s Kurfürstendamm while the main offices of 14 oz. Berlin will remain in Mitte with a modern warehouse on 1,200 square meters.
Karl-Heinz Müller in closing: “An exciting year with numerous challenges lies ahead of us. My team and I look forward to it!”
Stay tuned for more from Bread & Butter at Label Networks as the show continues.
