Première Vision and IFM (the French Fashion Institute) take their long-standing collaboration a step further to found the IFM-Première Vision Chair for “The Economics of Creative Materials for Fashion”. This new position aims to create a high value-added centre for research and knowledge sharing on the economics of textiles and leathers for the fashion and clothing industry. The research will be focused on the establishment of an international economic indicator for leather and textiles within fashion and design, the analysis of short-term developments in the industry, and the oversight of industry-specific studies. Apart from consolidating Première Vision’s position as a leading observatory for upstream fashion businesses, this collaboration is intended to nurture the specialised trade segments represented at the show, by granting access to economic and sector-specific data as well as targeted studies conducted jointly with IFM, so that they may better understand and adapt to industry issues and developments. For IFM, the creation of this new chair aligns with the school’s vocation as a specialised institute of higher education and research for the entire textile-clothing value chain, as well as reinforces and elevates its academic and professional programmes. One of the first actions of the Chair will be the establishment of an annual barometer, an index of observation and evaluation for activity within the creative fashion industry. A statistical survey is to be conducted with all Première Vision’s exhibitors, and the first results are to be published in September 2016. A seminar on sourcing will also be organised and led by the Chair at the upcoming edition of Première Vision Paris to be held on February 16 -18, 2016, at the Parc des Expositions de Paris Nord-Villepinte.
