Update: Colombiamoda 2018 Sales Deals Hit US$169 Million

Medellin-based textile-fashion industry trade group Inexmoda reported July 26 that the just-concluded, 29th annual “Colombiamoda” show at Plaza Mayor generated sales deals worth US$169 million.

While that was about 6% short of what organizers had initially hoped for this year’s edition, it’s nevertheless a generally positive sign, given relatively weak economic conditions that have pinched regional clothing demand over the past couple of years, according to Inexmoda.

Some 500 entrepreneurs — 84% Colombian nationals (with Antioquia the biggest single group) and 16% international – cut deals with some 11,000 buyers from 40 countries at this year’s show. Ecuador (17% of international buyers), Mexico (15%) the United States (14%) and Peru (9%) were the biggest groups of foreign buyers, according to Inexmoda.

For the total 27,200 visitors to the show, highlights included demonstrations and fashion parades from 46 major fashion designers and 10 commercial brands, according to Inexmoda.

In this year’s special graphic-arts design section at the show, 25 artists “expressed the latest trends in finished product graphics,” via four special conferences and two workshops attended by 150 potential customers.

“Taking advantage of the digital transformation that is currently happening, for this edition of Colombiamoda, a ‘Business Agenda Platform’ was organized for the first time, featuring a web portal where 11,000 national and international buyers could make 409 appointments with the 500 exhibitors” at the show, according to Inexmoda.

A parallel “Business Conference of New Technologies” organized by Colombia’s Ministry of Technology, Information and Commerce and the ProColombia export agency brought together 30 exporters of information technology and digital content related to the fashion industry. These exporters connected with some 78 entrepreneurs in the industry, generating business expectations of US$1.1 million, according to Inexmoda.

Meanwhile, the Inexmoda “Knowledge Pavilion” – organized by Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana – attracted 12,138 live attendees 4,051 others via internet streaming for expert talks on the latest in fashion and consumer-demographic trends this year.

Besides generating hefty sales deals for clothing designers and manufacturers, the show also netted the city of Medellin an estimated US$9 million in hotel, restaurant and transportation revenues, according to Medellin’s Secretary of Industry and Tourism.

The 2018 edition of the show included the latest clothing designs from Exito’s “Arkitect” brand at the opening, Isabel Henao designs at the closing, as well as renowned Andrés Pajón, Camilo Álvarez, Andrea Landa and SOY collections, “among the great figures on the catwalks of ‘La Semana de la Moda’ in Colombia,” according to the show organizer.

“Arkitect” fashion designer Custo Barcelona developed a line that “continues to democratize fashion, including clothing production 100% made-in-Colombia,” according to Inexmoda.

Other veteran designers on the fashion agenda this year included Diego Guarnizo and María Luisa Ortiz (presented by The Foundation for Women AVON); Andrés Pajón, Camilo Alvarez and Andrea Landa (presented by Chevrolet); and ALADO, celebrating 10 years of fashion-industry trajectory, according to the group.

Emerging designers featured at “El Cubo” included Geraldine Lustgarten, Kinira Swimwear, La Mar, Vana, Beat-a-bee and Afrikans, while other young designers such as Alexandra Bueno, Rocío Borré (with her trademark “Bahamamama” beach wear), María Alejandra Cajamarca (with her “Bahía María” swimwear) separately were featured at a “Nonstop Moda” event.

International clothing designer GEF returned to Colombiamoda this year, along with other major brands including Offcorss, Maaji, Ann Chery, Chamela, Trucco’s Jeans, Carmen Steffens and People, according to Inexmoda.