Attire Accessories - Feb/Mar 2019 (Issue 74)

54 Elastic generation Moda’s This Is Me theme aims to celebrate real people, with the topic set to run across all sectors of the show Having established itself as a key meeting place for mainstream fashion professionals, the February Moda show will continue as it always has, “delivering a high-quality and cost-effective platform for mid-market brands and ensuring a commercially viable and convenient buying environment for retailers across the UK and Ireland,” according to show organiser ITE. So what can you expect from the show this year? Well, there will be 16 catwalks shows, 9,000 fashion buyers present, a comprehensive retail-focused seminar programme and social networking events aplenty. However, what is perhaps most exciting is the newly launched This Is Me campaign. Said to be addressing real fashion for real people, the runway shows will feature a cross-section of body shapes in a bid to mirror real life, while the content programme will look at how the show’s leading collections are redefining fashion for the Elastic Generation and offer expert advice on how retailers can do more to serve this increasingly affluent demographic. Topics high on the agenda include fit and sizing, advice on how to dress every body shape and a stylist’s view of the brand-new collections designed with the Elastic Generation in mind. Julie Driscoll, managing director, Fashion Portfolio, ITE Group says, “Serving the fashion industry for so many years, Moda has carved a niche, offering real fashion for real people. And in 2019, kicking off with the February show, we will celebrate the people behind the brands, the people behind the stores and turn the spotlight on to the real lifestyles shaping the demands of today’s real consumers. “Key to our new manifesto is the Elastic Generation, a generation reinventing life for the over 50s, leaving age behind and living according to how they feel – bigger spenders than the under 50s but underserved by high street fashion.” There will be a host of accessories brands exhibiting at the show. Read on for our preview of some of the must-visit companies. Who: Moda, moda-uk.co.uk What: With a focus on accessories, footwear and womenswear, Moda is a curated show that’s targeted at your industries. Where: NEC, Birmingham When: 17 th -19 th February, 2019