The fashion and footwear VIP and department store visitors doubled in number at Australia’s leading
sourcing expo for apparel, accessories and textiles last month, reflecting the industry’s commitment
to securing viable overseas manufacturing partners in a changing and competitive sector.
Registration numbers at the International Sourcing Expo Australia and co-located Footwear &
Leather Show Australia saw more than 4000 visits from large fashion retailers to niche fashion
brands, start-up labels, online outlets and fashion designers looking to make valuable connections
with potential and existing suppliers.
Visitors included representatives from Peter Alexander, Australian Defence Apparel, Coles, Cotton
On Group, Department of Justice and Community Safety, Harris Scarfe, Jo Mercer, Kaufland
Australia, Kookai, Myer, Nine West, Sussan, Target, Wittner, Noni B, Retail Apparel Group, Workwear
Group, Tony Bianco, Glassons, Feathers, Pacific Group.
Domestically, the distribution of visitors remained consistent across most states, with Victoria and
New South Wales numbers slightly increasing. New Zealand visitor numbers more than doubled
compared with last year, representing increased interest in the event from this market.
Visitors met with more than 750 manufacturers and agents exhibiting at the expo from over 20
countries – including China, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia,
Singapore, United States, Fiji, Australia, Turkey, South Africa, Peru, Ethiopia, Taiwan, United Arab
Emirates and Thailand.
“A record number of countries exhibited in the show. It also attracted a highly targeted industry
buying audience from Australia as well as an increased participation from New Zealand. The show is
unique in both scale and scope but ultimately provides a very well managed professional sourcing
platform for international companies seeking to enter or grow their business in Australia and New
Zealand. It is very clear that the show provides significant value to the industry and that there is
significant potential to further grow the event in 2020,” Julie Holt, Exhibition Director, IEC Group Pty
Ltd said.
The Global Gallery was launched at the Show and provided an additional platform for exhibitors
to showcase their design and manufacturing capability to Australian and New Zealand trade buyers
and industry professionals. The gallery attracted strong interest from attendees who were inspired
to visit specific stands.
“This Show is the only one of its kind Australia and is a part of the Global Sourcing Shows Australia
brand. It provided unrivalled opportunity for Australian and New Zealand buyers to meet and do
business with manufacturers from all over the world, right here in Melbourne. In 2019 we were
delighted to introduce the Global Gallery to provide further opportunity for our international
exhibitors to showcase their capabilities and craftsmanship to local buyers,” Marie Kinsella, CEO, IEC
Group Pty Ltd said.
The VIP Buyer Program provides incentives for major trade buyers and group buyers to attend the
event. Twice as many VIPs attended the expo in 2019 compared to the previous year, showing just
how the expo attracted larger participation than ever before by Australia’s leading brands and trade
buyers. The Global Business Matching program provided more opportunities for both visitors and
exhibitors alike to create meaningful meetings and communication before the expo.
“As an Exhibition Director it is always edifying when you see business being done on the show floor
and hear positive stories from exhibitors. The Show was without doubt the strongest we’ve ever had
and augurs very well for the future of the show itself and the wider Global Sourcing Shows
platform,” Julie Holt, Exhibition Director, IEC Group Pty Ltd said.
The 2019 Global Sourcing Seminars included eleven sessions presented by industry experts across
the three-day event. Among the most popular seminars was ‘Savvy Sourcing Strategy’ presented by
fashion business consultant and Fashion Equipped founder, Elizabeth Formosa. We were also
pleased to welcome global trend forecasting agency, FASHION SNOOPS, to the seminar stage not
once, but twice as part of the program.
India’s participation across both the International Sourcing Expo and Footwear & Leather Expo was
the largest of all national representations with a total participation of 130 companies across the two
events. Led by key export organisations including substantial involvement from Federation of Indian
Export Organisations (FIEO), as well as Apparel Export Promotion Council, Indian Silk Export Council,
Jute Product Development Export Council, and Wool and Woollen Export Promotion Council, and
Handloom Export Promotion Council, the strong presence supported India’s continued focus on the
Australian market.
Council for Leather Exports India led their industry contingent at the Footwear and Leather Show
with 33 suppliers joining their pavilion, the largest at the Footwear & Leather Show for the fourth
consecutive year.
Show organisers launched Global Sourcing Shows Australia as a parent brand for a suite of shows
that includes the International Sourcing Expo, Footwear & Leather Show and the newly introduced
Global Home + Lifestyle show that will launch in Australia in 2020.
VISITOR SNAPSHOT
• 71 percent of visitors were from Victoria; 24 percent from other cities in Australia; and 5 percent from overseas
• 92 percent of visitors discovered new manufacturers or suppliers at the event
• 75 percent of visitors had final decision-making authority, with an additional 22 percent making recommendations to influence the final decision
ABOUT THE SHOW
International Sourcing Expo Australia, co-located with Footwear and Leather Show Australia and
China Clothing Accessories Textiles Expo, is Australia’s premier international sourcing show for
apparel, textiles, fashion accessories, footwear and leather products. Into its tenth year, the three day trade only event was held at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre on 12-14 November
2019 and will be held in 2020 from November 24-26 also at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition
Centre. Visit www.internationalsourcingexpo.com.