Fimi relies on globalization to return to normality
Roberta HERRERA
The Spanish children’s fashion fair Fimi returned between June 17 and 19 after holding a joint edition last February, its first physically held event after the beginning of the pandemic. This edition was held alone in Hall 8 of the Feria de Valencia exhibition center, following the trade show’s move from Madrid to Valencia in 2019.
A total of 123 national and foreign brands, including the presence of Portuguese, Turkish and Polish companies, spread over the 8,000 square meters of space. The trade show’s summer edition was attended by a hundred international buyers. This impulse from abroad was facilitated by the invitations made by the Spanish Association of Children’s Brands (AsepriRepublic
“The sector is picking up speed again. Brands are back to business as usual, but they are still recovering from two years of hiatus. Despite the boom or the introduction of the online channel, it is not enough compared to the volume of sales before the pandemic. Uncertainty is still being felt,” said the event’s director, Alicia Gimeno, in an interview with FashionNetwork.com
“We want to promote business development abroad until the domestic market gets back on its feet. There have been many closures of children’s stores in the past few months in Spain. We have to find a new balance between international boutiques and those newly opened,” insisted the head of the event, calling for the need to “implement policies to promote birth rates and aid for new parents” as mechanisms to boost the sector. Established companies such as Pili Carrera
Although detailed attendance figures have not yet been published and the pre-pandemic volume of visitors has yet to return, the children’s fair did boast the attendance of “hundreds of professionals from 20 different countries”. “Although the aisles were not crowded, brands made new contacts, opened markets and signed orders, which is the most important thing. And the fair is the driving force behind all these projects to serve as a stepping stone for the brands,” explained Gimeno, mentioning that the second day of the fair was the busiest.
A quiet optimism befitting this period of “gradual recovery” was shared by many of the brands present. The footwear company Pisamonas, participating in the event for the second time in a row, was happy with the number of visitors at the fair and with the significant number of foreign buyers, while Mac Ilusion expressed its satisfaction with the event’s physical return.
Priorities of the fair: innovation and sustainability
This edition saw a growing commitment to innovation, presenting baby footwear that change color in the sunlight by BigToes; Olmitos swimwear collections, made from recycled polyester from plastic bottles with a UPF80 sun protection factor; and the smart, water-repellent fabrics of Probe Balloon, a minimalist Valencia-based brand.
Furthermore, a good number of attending brands, such as the Portuguese brand Play
Despite the absence of leading Spanish companies in the sector such as Mayoral
The sector’s next event already has confirmed dates. From January 26 to 28, fashion and childcare will once again generate synergies during the next edition of BabyKid Spain + Fimi, which will feature an expansion of space to two new pavilions at the Fira de Valencia exhibition center. “We want to be seen as the meeting point for the children’s sector, bringing added value to the point of sale. Our main objective is to boost the internationalization and growth of companies,” concluded the director of the event, for which preparations are already underway.
