WHERE BUSINESS MEETS INSPIRATION

Press Release

Paris - Singapore:

The Fresh Take On Fashion & Home Design Trends 

 Photos courtesy of Maison&Objet, Who' s Next; Conference logo (R)

SINGAPORE - On October 30th, 2012, the Paris Region Economic Development Agency (PREDA) gathered 125 Singaporean and South East Asian journalists, associations, key players and professionals of the fashion and home design industries at the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. The 2012 �Paris -Singapore: The Fresh Take On Fashion & Home Design Trends� conference discussed the fashion and design trends and evolution, as well as the vital role the Paris trade shows play in showcasing them. The conference aimed also to expand international business development opportunities between Singapore and Paris based Fashion and Home Design trade shows and industries. 

The event was inaugurated by his Excellency the Ambassador of France, Mr. Olivier Caron, and Mr. Jean-Luc Margot-Duclot, Senior Vice-President of the Paris Region Economic Development Agency (PREDA). Followed an intervention by Mr. Etienne Cochet, President of Paris Capitale de la Cr�ation and Paris Design Week. 

The discussion started with the presentation of a quantitative survey �The Future & You� by Paris based trends agency NellyRodi�. The objective of the survey was to highlight what inspires hope for individuals, and identify the degree of concern for the future in 5 major countries (China, France, the USA, Japan and Brazil). Five main trends will guide tomorrow�s consumption around the world, they are: �Storytelling�, �Sense�, �Fun�, �New Cool�, and �Connectivity�. 

Photo courtesy of Maison&Objet

Paris Trade Shows Organizers came all the way from Paris including: Mr. Etienne Cochet, Managing director at SAFI (Maison&Objet), Ms. Marie-Laure Bellon, CEO at EUROVET (Mode City, Salon International de la Lingerie, Interfiliere�), Mr. Boris Provost, Head of communications & international development at WSN (WHO'S NEXT, PRET A PORTER PARIS).

Together with Singaporean experts, they discussed how these trends are reflected in the trade shows as well as in today�s market, everyday experience and consumer behaviors. Singaporean speakers included: Ms. Catherine Yam from LES AFFAIRES; Mr. Paul Khor from ACTUALLY and Mr. Thomas Tan representing the TEXTILE AND FASHION FEDERATION (SINGAPORE); Mr. Robert Tomlin from the DESIGN SINGAPORE COUNCIL and Mr. Patrick Chia for the SINGAPORE FURNITURE INDUSTRY COUNCIL. 

Before wrapping up the discussion, Jean-Luc Margot Duclot (PREDA), together with Mr. Etienne Cochet, and Mr. Thierry Vannier, Head of International Sales Promotion at Galeries Lafayette demonstrated how Paris embraces its creative tradition and commercial success. 

Mr. Jean-Luc Margot-Duclot stated that the Paris region is a major economic center and gateway to the European market, which represents 490 million consumers. With a GDP of 570 billion Euros (similar to the one of the Netherlands or Taiwan) and 47,000 Euros/capita, the region offers unique opportunities for Singaporean exporters or investors. 

Photo courtesy of Galeries Lafayette

Mr. Thierry Vannier reminded how Galeries Lafayette, the 70.000 square meter department store in the heart of Paris, the capital of fashion, has been supporting creativity for more than 100 years. Mr. Etienne Cochet emphasized, following the recent visit of the French Prime Minister and the French Minister for Foreign Trade to Singapore last week, how Singapore and France have been continuously strengthening their relationship throughout the years, and more specifically in the fashion and home design sectors. He stated that both French and Singaporean interests and future are common. 

Last but not least, Nathalie Rozborski, from NellyRodi� spotted the latest �must see� places Paris has to offer in the Paris city guide, named �Where Business Meets Inspiration�. 

After a networking luncheon the afternoon was dedicated to one to one interviews between the speakers and guests, including media, institutions associations, and key players of the fashion and home design industries, coming from Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore. 

All agreed on the huge potential provided by the Paris region trade shows and conferences given their international presence, commercial opportunities, and access to markets and do business. The trade shows in the Paris Region are great international business platforms for visitors and exhibitors to promote their products and services at one of the world�s biggest marketplace. It was reminded that Paris is the only city in the world to offer such a complete stage for fashion and home design trade shows.

Photo courtesy of Who's Next

The Paris Ile-de-France Region is the biggest region in the world that organizes international trade shows and conferences. The region welcomes over 10 million visitors each year for its annual 440+ fairs involving 100,000 exhibiting companies. This makes Paris Ile-de-France Region the first business destination in Europe and the best offer in the world for exhibition floors and showrooms. 

The Paris Region Economic Development Agency (PREDA) has 7 principal remits: 

• Promote the economic attractiveness of the region abroad 
• Attract foreign investors to Paris Region 
• Coordinate the marketing of the regional offer 
• Help investors prior to and during their location to Paris Region 
• Support areas facing economic changes 
• Incorporate sustainable development into each of the main remits 
• Involvement of PREDA in activities in the business travel and meetings sector in Paris Region and help promote Paris Region trade shows internationally, as well as supporting the organisation of new events 

Source: UBIFRANCE

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* Special thank you to the Paris Region Economic Development agency and UBIFRANCE Singapore for inviting Fashion Studio Magazine to this event.

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