Confusion over Kiwi trade fair

Mystery shrouds the redirection of New Zealand trade fair fashionsource with no official announcement on the reasons behind its shift from a physical trade fair to a virtual event.
Citing overwhelming demand and unexpected diverse exhibitor needs as the sudden change to the spring/summer 06/07 show, the event was due to take place on April 5-6 at Auckland's Ellerslie Event Centre.
Event co-organiser Apparel magazine claimed the change was necessity because the joint organisers, Composite Retail Group and Apparel, could not immediately satisfy the new and varying parameters many exhibitors required.
However would-be exhibitors, together with leading industry associations, claim to have been left in the dark as to the real reasons behind the change.
Apparel New Zealand editor Paola Ghirelli said she was not prepared to comment but added all information on the redirection could be found in the March issue of the magazine.
Annah Stretton, chairperson of industry association Fashion Industry New Zealand, said FINZ had not had any official notification of the change.
"[The board] just became aware that [fashionsource] is not going ahead last week when it was brought up at a FINZ meeting unofficially. Officially there has been no press release and we are not aware of the context in which the change has been made. [FINZ] has very little to do with [fashionsource]."
The virtual trade event will see suppliers designs catwalk modelled, professionally filmed, recorded to CD and distributed to 10,000 plus retailers throughout Australia and New Zealand.
Queensland wholesaler Fanny Lamb was due to exhibit at the show and was only told about the change via email three weeks ago.
"I am very disappointed by the change. They don't want to tell the exhibitors they are cancelling but I was told they only had 16 exhibitors booked. I have run advertisements in Ragtrader and in a local Brisbane paper with the fashionsource logo and my stand details and I printed 2000 of my catalogues with the same details on the front page.
"They have asked me to send my entire range to the New Zealand office for them to photograph, but I already have a website with all my designs on it."
Yet to receive her deposit back, Lamb said she's been told she would be entitled to receive a 100 per cent refund.
"[Fashionsourse] said they could keep my deposit for the September show but I don't think I'll be showing there next season. I have lost confidence with them."
Austrade, which Ragtrader understands was due to lead a delegation at the event, said it could not comment on the change due to client confidentiality. An alternative opportunity has been offered to its New Zealand office by fashionsource organisers.
The September fashionsource is expected to take place as usual.