KOTRA's Korean Exhibitors Join Material World West
KOTRA, the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency, has signed on to bring a group of more than 50 Korean textile and manufacturing companies to the debut of the West Coast edition of Material World and Technology Solutions, set for Sept. 30–Oct. 2 at the California Market Center.
Earlier this year, Material World’s organizer, Atlanta-based Urban Expositions, announced plans to co-locate its West Coast show with the longstanding Los Angeles International Textile Show, produced by the CMC.
The CMC’s textile show received added competition this year with the introduction of new textile show GlobalTex, produced by the Market Center Management Co. with the endorsement of the Textile Association of Los Angeles.
The two textile shows have been vying for the Korean group, which has been hosting a Korean Pavilion at the CMC’s textile show for the past several years.
“It has been four years since the establishment of the Global Korea Textile Show (Preview in LA),” said Sang Chul Kim, director general of KOTRA Los Angeles, in a statement. “As our main purpose is to promote the Korean textile and fashion industry, we are extremely delighted to have the opportunity to partner this fall with the California Market Center and Material World L.A. We believe that with the support of these two highly experienced organizers, the upcoming fall event will be a good turning point and begin to be recognized as a must-see textile show.”
Korean companies already on board for the debut show include IB Corp., Masi International, StarTex, DaeDo, Fashion Flying and Korea Textile Center.
“Korea continues to be recognized as a global leader in the worldwide production of textiles, with textile exports playing a key role in the country’s economic growth,” said Material World President Tim von Gal in a statement. “The expansive presence of the Korea Pavilion at our new event in Los Angeles will give our attendees a first-hand look at Korea’s latest innovations, new technologies and fashion-production capabilities.”
Material World’s West Coast show promises to mix fabric, sourcing, technology and logistics resources, including sections devoted to home furnishings, garment-production equipment and IT solutions. Organizers said the show will feature more than 300 companies showing in the CMC Fashion Theater, Exhibition Hall and in a new space on the 12th floor. Los Angeles International Textile Show organizers said their show will feature more than 250 mills and agents from the United States, Europe, Asia, South America and other locales, including fabric, trim and service-provider resources showing in the CMC Penthouse and in permanent showrooms on the sixth and seventh floors.
The two shows will also feature a jointly produced trend pavilion and a seminar series that will include an education program produced in partnership with the American Apparel & Footwear Association. —Alison A. Nieder
