"Preview in Seoul (PIS) 2016” wrapped up its three-day run at COEX in Seoul on Sept. 2. It was the largest-ever textile fair. The exhibition, launched in 2000, is the nation’s representative textile fair and is noted for boosting Korea’s textile exports and domestic sales.
The fair opened on Aug. 31 under the theme “Simplex Union,” meaning creative convergence to optimize diverse values of the future.
Among those on hand at the opening ceremony were Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Joo Hyung-hwan, and Chairman Sung Ki-hak of the Korea Federation of Textile Industries (KOFOTI).
Minister Joo said, “It is more important to cope with changes of clients’ lifestyle like diversifying of favorite fashions of the textile and fashion industries and a rise in mobile purchases.” He called for the nurturing of global brands with a global competitive edge through technology innovation and aggressive challenging to grasp fast-changing global trends and play a trend-setting role.
A total of 374 exhibitors, the most-ever, including functional and eco-friendly material makers, fashion clothes maker and textile machinery makers, participated in the 17th fair. FIS 2016’s exhibition space increased to 14,004 sq. meters by adding the D2 Exhibition Hall to the conventional venue, A Exhibition Hall. The exhibitors included 160 companies from 11 foreign countries, including Taiwan, Germany, Vietnam, China, Austria, India, Indonesia, Pakistan and Hong Kong.
China’s chemical fiber companies, including Shenghong Corporation and Hengli, as well as Hebei Prefecture set up a joint pavilion. Major textile companies from Taiwan, Indonesia and India opened their national pavilions to tap the Korean textile market. Lenzing AG of Austria, Everest Textile of Taiwan and Doti Hutex of Vietnam also participated in the fair. FIS 2016 saw exhibition items diversify to yarn, fabric, fashion clothes, rubber shoes, bags and textile machineries, a departure from the conventional focus on textile materials.
The fair also attracted about 1,000 foreign buyers and an estimated 12,000 spectators. Major buyers from the Unites States, China, Hong Kong and Middle Eastern countries participated in the fair, seeking new materials and business partners.
Korean exhibitors, including Kolon Fashion Material, Toray Chemical, Youngone Corp. and Young Textile, showed off their own functional textile and their latest trend-setting products.
Among the eye-catchers on display were a super ultra-light, heat-retaining, strong nylon material produced by Young Textile; a lightweight nylon material produced by One Chang Material; and a functional, safe material produced by Texland Nexko. The Korean textile makers, which demonstrated excellence of Korean-made textiles at such major textile shows as Premier Vision, came up with the latest products. Dawon Andus released an antibiotic, deodorizing textile material, while Atko Planning put on the market a leather material recycled by a patent technology.
Seong-An, a leading exporter to the Middle East, and six other companies set up a joint pavilion to strengthen their presence in such areas as Iran, Turkey and Dubai. The Spinners & Weavers Association of Korea, Korea Textile Trade Association, Daegu Textile Marketing Center, Korea Textile Development Institute, Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, and Korea High Tech Textile Research Institute also participated in the fair.
The fair also coincided with one-on-one meetings between exhibitors and buyers, fashion shows and seminars. FIS 2016 not only saw an expanded exhibition space, but it also saw the participation of prominent exhibitors, a KOFOTI official said.
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Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Joo Hyung-hwan looks at the items on display during the Preview in Seoul 2016. (Photos: MOTIE)
