Innovative products and services drew encouraging numbers of visitors to APLF, according to organisers. Figures reported claim that visitor numbers for the combined fairs totalled almost 30,000, an optimistic number, according to organisers, considering the grim global economic conditions.

Although there were fewer visitors overall compared with last year’s edition, there were more visitors from Spain, the Middle East, Thailand, Pakistan and some South American countries including Colombia, Argentina and Venezuela.

"In view of travel cuts and the economic downturn, the small drop in the number of visitors was much less than we anticipated. People are allocating their budgets to attend major shows to better use their travel budgets," noted Michael Duck, director of APLF.

Highlights at fashion access included high-tech ski gloves from Japan’s Matsuoka Glove Co., bespoke footwear fashion from Brazilian shoe brand Luiza Barcelos Calcados, elegant leathergoods from Hong Kong’s Chanceland and Brazilian designer Patricia Vieira’s modern leather garments.

Leather supplier Uyguner Deri from Turkey took home a Best of APLF Award for its ultra-thin, supple leather offered in a wide range of colours.