For European denim buyers, the late-summer edition of Munich Fabric Start is where the next season begins. Its denim area, Bluezone, brings mills, brands and service providers together under one roof, and in 2016 it was growing fast.
Ahead of the show (30 August to 1 September 2016), Lenzing's Carved in Blue spoke to Panos Sofianos, the denim veteran brought in that April to manage Bluezone. He explained that the market was flourishing and that Bluezone was expanding into two halls to meet demand from more than 100 suppliers. A new KEYHOUSE in Hall 5 would focus on innovation, technology and sustainability.
The main Bluezone area, the "All Star Mills" in Hall 7, was described as "the stage for well- established players and service providers" with an international premium portfolio. Sofianos named Azgard9 among them, alongside Artistic Milliners, Atlantic Mills, Orta, Bossa, Calik and Naveena.
For Azgard9, Munich was one of a regular circuit of shows. A year later, CEO Ahmed Humayun Shaikh listed the company's trade shows as Denim Première Vision, Intertextile Shanghai, Munich Fabric Start, BPD Expo in New York, Denim & Jeans in Vietnam and Denim Expo in Bangladesh. Shows like Bluezone are where brand designers and sourcing teams see new fabrics in person and start developments together.
Key facts
- ShowBluezone at Munich Fabric Start, 30 August to 1 September 2016
- LocationHall 7, the "All Star Mills" area
- ScaleBluezone expanded to two halls for more than 100 suppliers
- Mills named alongside Azgard9Artistic Milliners, Atlantic Mills, Orta, Bossa, Calik, Naveena
- Bluezone managerPanos Sofianos, appointed April 2016
Meeting brands face to face, season after season, is part of how Azgard9 works as a long-term partner to global denim labels.
