Italy’s fine leather amazes Korea
Italy, known for its top-quality leather goods, is targeting Korea, its eighth-biggest leather importer, with a wide range of products.
The Italian Trade Agency brought the Mipel TheBagShow, an international event dedicated to leather goods and fashion accessories, to the Park Hyatt Seoul on March 21 to 23. The show introduced some 18 companies from the Italian Leather Goods Association (AIMPES). This was the second Seoul show aimed at promoting Italian leather manufacturers and their products.
“The entire world appreciates Italian leather products, but nothing compares to seeing them and touching them and being able to experience them,” Italian Ambassador to Korea Marco della Seta said at the opening ceremony on March 21.
“We are leaders in the market regarding leather items. We would like to confirm our leadership and make it even better by bringing more and more companies with a diversified range of products to Korea.”
According to the Italian Trade Agency, Italy’s leather exports to Korea increased by 3.6 percent last year from a year earlier, to 290 million euros, ranking eighth among coun- tries importing Italian leather goods.
Participants, including Arcadia, Carl Laich and Maxima, showed their fall/winter 2017-18 collections at the event.
Soraya Shahir Barzegar, who has the brand Soraya, said she was impressed how interested Koreans were in fashion accessories and leather goods in particular. It was her second visit here and she intro- duced her smooth leather bags featured with antique Oriental handcrafted rugs.
The show also invited TecknoMonster, a company specializing in trolley cases since 2007. It uses carbon fiber to produce ultra-light cases in Italy and is known for the bulletproof line launched in 2013. These are aimed at businessmen traveling in dangerous countries, diplomats, high-profile fig- ures and anyone who wants to feel safer traveling with an “armored” trolley bag.
The agency said Korea’s multi-brand retailers, including Louis Club and Lotte 5 On the Go, will have areas dedicated to the Italian collection for two months, offering an opportunity for the producers to become familiar with the Korean market and consumers.