Who's Next - Première Classe: this January's edition is multi-faceted

By

Anaïs Lerévérend

Published
Jan 21, 2016

Who's Next - Première Classe has fashioned its new version. The edition dedicated to Autumn-Winter 16/17 is being held, as usual, from 22nd to 25th January at the Porte de Versailles Exhibition Park. Though the show's segmentation remains the same this season, the organisers are having to cope with a new hall change, due to the construction work affecting Porte de Versailles and the fact that Hall 1 will be occupied by the International Lingerie Show.

Approximately 1,500 exhibitors altogether will be showcasing their collections, 700 for ready-to-wear apparel and about 800 for accessories. The figure is lower compared to the 1,600 exhibitors who attended the January 2015 edition. They will install their booths around the central avenue, in Halls 2 (on two levels), 3 and 4. The main entrance will provide access to Hall 2 and the Studio area. This is dedicated to mid-market women's ready-to-wear collections and hosts 200 brands, among them Best Mountain, Jus d'Orange, Derhy, Lauren Vidal, and new ones like Darling London, Viccio Barcelona and Giulia Maratti.

Above Studio, on the upper level in Hall 2, lie the areas dedicated to young fashion: the highly directional Trendy section and its streetwear counterpart, Urban. These two smaller areas will feature about sixty brands each: on the Trendy side, there are names like Compania Fantastica and Nümph, joined this season for the first time by US brand Endless Rose, Spanish brand Double Agent, and Joe Retro, the second brand developed by the teams from Kaporal, which is relaunching using a mixed-gender fashion concept. There are some newbies in the Urban section too: for example, French brand MaisonVolfs, InMyHood, and CR7, footballer Cristiano Ronaldo's brand.

The rest of the ready-to-wear offering will be featured on the opposite side of the Exhibition Parks' central avenue, in Hall 4 as usual. The Fame section, which for a long time was the hall's sole occupier, will this time have to share it with Private. The latter is dedicated, according to the show's organisers, to "high-potential commercial brands", and will host 170 exhibitors. Nice Things, The Korner, Yaya and See U Soon will witness the arrival or the return of brands such as Acoté (Cotélac's second brand), Les 100 Ciels and Erakle.

Fame will claim the more creative set for itself, featuring as always 200 brands (American Vintage, Samsoe & Samsoe, Antik Batik, Rue Blanche, Gat Rimon, etc.) including new arrivals such as Danish brand Birgitte Herskind, Bonvirage's highly expressive leggings and the womenswear collection by Cuisse de Grenouille.

Finally, Première Classe, the major accessories show, will occupy Hall 3, featuring a less clear-cut segmentation than that of ready-to-wear apparel. Première Classe will again be located alongside From, the area dedicated to sourcing, which will host 70 exhibitors this season, mostly from India. Première Classe will bring together approximately 750 brands, covering all the various accessories' segments.

In terms of footwear for example, it will mark the debut for labels such as Kenneth Cole from the USA, Isetan Shoes, the Japanese department store's own footwear brand, Monderer, Loriblu, and Calvin Klein's footwear line. New costume jewellery will be on show for example at Pernille Corydon, while Clio Goldbrenner handbags and Jeune Premier satchels will be making a first appearance at the show.