Panamerican fair fades to history
The Panamerican Leather Fair, founded with much enthusiasm seven years ago, faded into history with a presentation that was barely one/tenth of its original size.
At one time the fair had 1,000 exhibitors, but shrunk to about 100 exhibitors for its last presentation. Overall, there were about 10 component suppliers, about 25 tanners in the Leather Industries of America Pavilion; a few other tanners, some 40 finished goods suppliers and members of the trade press. For the size of the show traffic was not too bad, but it was difficult to find an exhibitor who was satisfied with the traffic or business received.
One thing that will be remembered from this final event was the daily conference programme. The first seminar was "Fashion Trends of the Future," featuring a presentation by Steve Cutting, director of design, S. Rothschild Men's Division, who presented an overview of leather fashions, past, present and future. The second seminar was "e-sourcing and Manufacturing." The speakers were Charlie Hilm, CEO, Confexicon; Janet Kelley, director of marketing, Global Trading Systems; Margaret Tjan, 7thonline; and Kurt Cavano, Chairman and CEO, TradeCard.
The third seminar covered "The Leather Industry and the Free Trade Area of the Americas." The speakers were Charles Myers, President, Leather Industries of America, and Mauro Leiser, Arlei Leather, Argentina.
At the close of the fair, the show's management announced that they were forming a new event to take place in the United States in 2003. Called Source International (Si), the new event will be aimed at supply chain managers and will combine materials, private label products and technology and logistic support. (See separate leatherbiz.com story: ‘Supply chain focus for new Source International, 25.01.02).
