Mixed mood at opening of Moda show

Moda kicked off in a mixed mood

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The mood at the first day of the Moda exhibition in Birmingham yesterday was mixed with few surprises in the way of trends.

In the Moda womenswear section, bigger name brands saw a steady stream of visitors but quiet stands were also a common sight, as buyers played it safe by-passing peripheral labels.

Exhibitors in the Moda menswear section reported generally slower footfall than the previous year, although the new Moda Platform sub-section, which showcased some more contemporary brands, gave new interest to the menswear section of the show.

Buyers were relatively upbeat as they became more resigned to the impact of the credit crunch. However by the middle of the afternoon, most stand staff had little to do as the hall cleared.

The mood at Moda footwear was also positive. Adrian Day, brand manager of Lambretta footwear, said he had high expectations for the show.

"Even though there's a credit crunch, it's about people putting money where their mouths are. I don't think budgets will be slashed. People have still got money, but the risk element has been removed and people are backing winners".