This spring’s sessions of the Performance Days, a fiber and fabrics show held in Munich (April 13-15) and Annecy (April 19-20), were a success in the sense of a growing number of exhibitors and visitors. The number of exhibitors grew by 20 percent to 70, coming from 16 countries. Visitors rose also by nearly 20 percent and came to the two spots from 11 countries. Weichert Agencies, the German sourcing company and organizer of the shows, reports that the increase of attendees was positive after the period was compacted from six to five days and the session were no longer held at three places (Stockholm, Verona, Munich) as in the years before. The move to Annecy came after Performance Days joined forces with the newly created Outdoor Sports Valley, the cluster-like think tank in the French Alps that is headed by the former Salomon chief and now Tecnica manager, Jean-Luc Diard. The show also teamed up with Eurosima, the European federation of board sports brands. The attendance of the surf people who are usually located at the Atlantic coast in Southern France was, however, negatively influenced by canceled flights due to the ash cloud. The next Performance Days will take place on Nov. 18-19 in Munich and on Nov. 23-24 in Annecy, and will present the collections for summer 2012 and winter 2012-13.
