112 exhibitors from eleven countries presented their summer and autumn collections of leathergoods, bags and travel accessories at InterVIEW, held in Offenbach, Germany, on January 26-28.

According to the organisers, the 700 ranges on show which included briefcases, satchels, suitcases and leather accessories for travel, outdoor, school, sport and business, went down well with the 2,300 visitors at the fair, reflecting an overall buoyant mood in the leathergoods industry.

According to figures released by the Federal Association of the German Retail Trade (BLE), the leather sector posted a 3% increase in revenues in 2006, following positive sales over the Christmas period. It is hoped that this increase in demand will continue in 2007 and may even compensate for the higher rate of VAT that has been imposed in Germany.