Exhibitors and visitors have described the second BFM-sponsored London Fabric Show to be held at Chelsea FC as a “great success” reports the show’s organiser.

The edition saw a large increase in visitor numbers – up 88% on the first day and 58% overall from last year’s show – boasting representatatives from many of Britain’s upholstery companies.The number of visiting companies in attendance over the two days of the event was up 33% on last year.

Visitors were treated to a wide variety of high-quality fabrics from the show’s 33 exhibitors. Mills and suppliers from Belgium, Italy, Spain, Turkey and the UK took over executive boxes and suites of the football ground and turned them into a sea of colour and texture. On display were jacquards, velvets, wools, tweeds and cottons, chenilles and linens, in soft hues and vibrant patterns, as well as backing fabrics and FR coatings.

Satisfaction with the show was expressed by exhibitors and visitors, with many pledging to return in 2017. Koen Mortier from Belgian Escolys commented: “It has been a good show for us. We do a lot of business with UK companies and our UK customers are very important to us, so this is a good place for us to come and do business. We have seen many of our customers and also met new ones. We will return.”

Benti Textile’s Nejla Oral said: “We are establishing ourselves in the UK market, and exhibiting at this show has meant that we have made some excellent contacts and had a great opportunity to demonstrate the quality of our fabrics. We look forward to returning next year.”

Visitor to the show, Jo Moore from upholstery manufacturer Spink & Edgar, said: “There are some great exhibitors here and it has been very useful for us to attend. The venue is good too, and we’ve met some good friends from the industry.”

MD of sponsor the BFM Jackie Bazeley comments: “We are delighted that the 2016 London Fabric Show has been such a success, and has been highly complemented by both exhibitors and visitors.

“In our membership we have a great number of prestigious UK upholstery companies, and see it as important that we organise this show to give them, and other UK manufacturers, an unparalleled opportunity to see some of the best fabric producers in the world – in one venue. This highly individual show is growing – we already have a waiting list of companies wishing to exhibit next year.”

The event will return to Chelsea FC on 27th and 28th February 2017.

(Source: Furniture News)