This previous August, we advised you concerning the Northwest Cloth and Trim Present and what it affords to the textile sourcing neighborhood. Effectively not too long ago we realized the the present has rebranded itself as Seattle Worldwide Textile Expo (SITE) and is re-introducing itself this March with nice distributors and plenty of alternative.
In an effort to study the place this present has been, the place it’s going, and what it has to supply to the textile and vogue communities, we sat down with producer Steven Matsumoto.
StUF: Do you assume SITE is a present that may/ought to appeal to nationwide consideration? In that case , for what motive? What does it have to supply that a number of the others don’t?
SM: Whereas SITE is a regional present due to our shut proximity to British Columbia, which doesn’t have its personal sourcing present, I imagine we’re worthy of nationwide consideration for attracting each exhibitors and patrons from B.C. to Seattle. In contrast to most textile sourcing occasions we attempt to differentiate ourselves by attracting exhibitors that not solely serve the foremost design homes and material retailers, however may also work with smaller producers and designers by providing low minimums. A few of our exhibitors have minimums as little as $50.
StUF: Who’re a number of the exhibitors we are able to anticipate to see at SITE?
SM: Now we have an extended listing of textile producers, distributors, and converters attending our Spring 2012 occasion that may be discovered proper right here. “New Exhibitors” are outlined as somebody that has by no means proven, or not been to the present in over two years.
StUF: What was the rationale behind the brand new course/branding of the present? What makes it higher now?
SM: We rebranded the present as a result of the prior model of Northwest Cloth and Notions Present had earned a popularity as simply being a quilt present. Nevertheless once we evaluated the patrons that had been truly coming to the present, the retail quilting outlets had been truly within the minority. Most of our attendees recognized themselves as both producers of sewn items, or designers. Many potential patrons additionally had thought the present had gone out of enterprise after it moved south of Seattle to the town of Renton.
Potential exhibitors additionally advised us repeatedly they thought it was only for quilters which is why they didn’t take part. A re-brand was needed to draw suppliers again to the area, convey new power to the occasion, and symbolize the British Columbia market. We’ve additionally adopted the instance of different commerce exhibits and added academic seminars. We even have registrations for our occasion from as far-off as India and Egypt.
StUF:What are the targets of SITE? How does it hope/plan to make an affect on the style and textile industries?
SM: Our mission is to serve your complete textile commerce within the area. We don’t need to pigeon gap ourselves as only for material retailers, or designers, or sewn items producers. We additionally need to serve the upholsterers, inside designers, and provides organizations like Boeing, Nordstrom Product Group, Eddie Bauer, REI and Tommy Bahama an occasion they will attend of their again yard and save on journey bills. In the event that they use textiles we wish SITE to serve them.
Long run we’d additionally like to provide comparable occasions in different underserved markets searching for low minimal suppliers. A number of of our exhibitors have talked about different regional exhibits that was once frequent place, however have both disappeared because of the financial system or poor administration. We’ve already been approached by organizations in Detroit, Denver, Phoenix and Washington D.C. about doing highway exhibits of their areas. If we’re to rebuild our nice Nation’s attire and textile commerce we have to make it simpler for start-ups and small companies to have entry to the uncooked supplies they want. That’s our purpose…
StUF: Thanks Steven, we’re excited to listen to that. We couldn’t agree extra.
Present Particulars:
Sunday
March 11, 2012 12:00 p.m./5:00 p.m.
Monday
March 12, 2012 9:00 a.m./5:00 p.m.
Handle:
Crimson Lion Lodge on Fifth Avenue
1415 Fifth Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101
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