As the last survivor of the Berlin trade fair landscape, Seek celebrated its solo debut this week. Of course, on the two days of the trade fair there was no longer much evidence of the massive international response that major events such as Premium and Panorama, which have now disappeared, used to be able to generate together in the capital.
But that was not what the organizers wanted, given the adverse conditions that large parts of the textile industry are currently suffering from. “For us, it’s not about growth at the moment. Appreciation is our top priority,” emphasized show director Marie-Luise Patzelt in her conclusion published on Thursday.
Instead, it was primarily about creating a reliable meeting place for its own, comparatively young and progressive target group in difficult times – with a relaxed atmosphere, many sustainable brands and discussion events that are dedicated to the current needs of the industry in this segment. “We have moved closer together again, internally and also with exhibitors and buyers,” says Patzelt. “We were able to strengthen our community again.”
The majority of the almost 5,000 visitors come from the DACH region
According to the organizers, a total of almost 5,000 trade visitors found their way to the historic hall of the former freight yard at Gleisdreieck on Tuesday and Wednesday. However, because the large, popular brands are now almost completely missing from the brand portfolio, international steel power remained limited. The trade fair organizers said that 70 percent of the visitors came from the DACH region, i.e. from Germany, Austria or Switzerland. The rest came from Italy (5 percent), Great Britain (4 percent) and France (3.5 percent) as well as other countries (17.5 percent).
Things should now continue at a similar level for the time being. Grandiose visions such as those that Berlin trade fair organizers have been proclaiming for years are no longer relevant given the current situation in the industry. With a focus on sustainability, carefully selected brands that still want to make a name for themselves, and a clearly defined target audience with shared values, Seek has now at least occupied a niche that meets current needs.