APLF: Leather & Materials+ - The Complete Supply Chain of Leather, Performance Fabrics and Components all under One Roof

Hong Kong, June 1, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- APLF has been serving the Global Leather & Fashion Industries for 33 years and has now widened its scope to cover the whole manufacturing supply chain to include athletic, leisure and sports fashion - from raw to performance materials and fabrics, components for the manufacture of athletic and casual footwear, sports fashion clothing & accessories.

As APLF-MM&T diversifies its product categories to better serve the global leather and fashion industry, the annual trade show will become APLF - Leather and Materials+. The objective of this change is to ensure that buyers' needs are met when sourcing for different materials.

APLF - Leather

APLF

APLF has established itself as the world's leading trade fair for the leather industry, an annual meeting place for the global leather industry where prices of leather, trends and innovation are discussed. With exhibitors from more than 50 countries and buyers from more than 80, APLF - Leather, with its 33 year track record and being located in Asia's business hub of Hong Kong is ideally placed as a sourcing destination for leather and components for leathergoods, footwear, garment and upholstery manufacturers, all under one roof.

The Rise of Athleisure Fashion

Asian youth are becoming more sports and fashion conscious and represent a huge target group for sporty casual, or athleisure sportwears. According to a Morgan Stanley's report on "Global Athletic Wear: Very Bullish Five-Year Outlook" published in October 2015, Sports apparel and footwear sales have jumped 42% to $270 billion over the past seven years and the report estimates that until 2020 there will be a 30% growth in this market, with Asia becoming the biggest contributor to sales growth of sportwears and, by extension, the performance fabrics and innovative technology required to manufacture these products.

Purchases of sports fashion and athletic-type footwear is now outstripping luxury purchases in China and represent an ongoing opportunity due to the fitness boom and high-low fashion trends in the country.

APLF - Materials+

APLF

APLF - Materials+ encompass this growing sector so important for athleisure product manufacturers, designers and product developers at APLF in Hong Kong.

The Plus sign is chosen for its dynamic and innovative significance as it represents the positive energy which is related to the athleisure trend. The sector will cover synthetic and functional materials and components for sportswear as well as components for the fashion industry.

With China next door and thriving ASEAN manufacturing countries just a short flight away, APLF - Leather & Materials+ is a trade event where trends are set and discussed, innovation launched and where product developers can meet all their suppliers.

For more information, please visit the new fair website at www.leatherfair.aplf.com.

Notes to Editors

About APLF Limited (http://www.aplf.com/)

APLF Ltd is a joint venture between SIC Group and UBM Asia. For over two decades, Hong Kong-based APLF Ltd has been providing the global leather and fashion industries with its most important meeting and trading place.

About SIC Group (http://www.sicgroup.com/)

SIC Group has been organising international professional events since 1926 for companies working in the leather sector. Its role is to support businesses in their development and offer them work platforms in areas of the world with high potential. With four shows organised each year, SIC Group and its partners can take advantages of expertise that is unique in the world.

About UBM Asia (www.ubmasia.com)

Owned by UBM plc listed on the London Stock Exchange, UBM Asia is the largest trade show organiser in Asia and the largest commercial organiser in China, India and Malaysia. Established with its headquarters in Hong Kong and subsidiary companies across Asia and in the US, UBM Asia has a strong global presence in 24 major cities with 32 offices and 1,300 staff.

With a track record spanning over 30 years, UBM Asia operates in 19 market sectors with 230 events, 28 targeted trade publications, 18 round-the-clock online products for over 2,000,000 quality exhibitors, visitors, conference delegates, advertisers and subscribers from all over the world. We provide a one-stop diversified global service for high-value business matching, quality market news and online trading networks.

UBM Asia has extensive office networks in China, Southeast Asia and India, three of the world's fastest growing B2B events markets. UBM China has 12 offices in the major cities in mainland China, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Guzhen and Shenzhen, where we organise 90 events. In ASEAN, UBM Asia operates from its offices in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam and the Philippines with 70 events in this region. UBM India teams in Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru and Chennai organise over 20 events every year across the country.

UBM Asia was awarded 'Asia's Most Reliable Trade Show Organizer Award' in Hong Kong's Most Valuable Companies Awards (HKMVCA) 2016.

About UBM plc (www.ubm.com)

UBM plc is a leading global events-led marketing services and communications company. We help businesses do business, bringing the world's buyers and sellers together at events, online and in print. Our 5,000 staff in more than 20 countries are organised into specialist teams which serve commercial and professional communities, helping them to do business and their markets to work effectively and efficiently.

For more information, go to www.ubm.com; for UBM corporate news, follow us on Twitter at @UBM_plc and go to http://media.ubm.com/social for more UBM social media options.

For fair details, please contact:
Ms Perrine Ardouin, Director
Email: Perrine.Ardouin@ubm.com

For media enquiries, please contact:
Ms Rachel Yan, Marketing Communications Executive
Email: Rachel.Yan@ubm.com

APLF Limited
17/F China Resources Building,
26 Harbour Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong
Tel:    +852-2827-6211
Fax:   +852-3749-7346
Website: http://www.aplf.com/      

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