Exhibition "Intertextil Balticum 2011"

From 8th to 10th April at Ķīpsala, for the 16th time, the international textile, clothing, leather goods and manufacturing equipment exhibition "Intertextil Balticum 2011" will welcome visitors. This year it will pay special attention not only to industrial producers, but also to those who make various garments and accessories by hand - both for pleasure and for sale.

Exhibition highlight - handcrafts

Taking into account the rapidly growing popularity of handcrafts in recent years, the exhibition organisers have this year reserved a special place and role for handcraft makers and masters of various handcraft techniques. Alongside fabric, clothing and equipment manufacturers, the exhibition will feature knitters, sewers, beaders, felters, mosaic makers and other craft artists. On display will be a unique large-format quilt made in textile mosaic technique - the "Friendship Quilt for Riga" - measuring 7.50 metres long and 1.80 metres tall.

Find your craft in the Creative Workshops

For those still searching for "their" handcraft, it is already possible to sign up for the Creative Workshops supported by several companies, where you can discover and learn the basics of techniques such as rug-making, flower-making, canvas embroidery, felting, Jacobean embroidery and more. The Creative Workshops are supported by companies "Sonika", "Coats Latvia", "Burda's Salon", the specialist sewing machine online shop sujmasinas.lv and the Textile Mosaic Association. The first Latvian Speed Sewing Championship will also take place at the Creative Workshops stand at Ķīpsala.

Get inspired at colourful fashion shows and seminars

For those interested in fashion and design, there will be an opportunity during the exhibition to watch several fashion shows - both by local designers and international guests. Designer Artis Štamgūts, students from the Design Department of Novia University of Applied Sciences (Finland, Turku), and representatives of the Latvian designer shop "Mondolini" will present their collections.

At Ķīpsala you will also be able to watch fashion shows by clothing manufacturers. The latest collections will be shown by "Ādas dizains", the clothing catalogue "Halens", the Bulgarian company "ZOYA-ZOYA ILIEVA" and others. Ladies in particular may enjoy the corset fashion show by Russian designer Natalya Piskunova, as these pieces are each made in a single copy and are unique works of art.

On 9th April, visitors will have the opportunity throughout the day to view the latest fashion trends in collections by 50 young fashion artists at the 11th Young Fashion Artists Competition "Habitus Baltija 2011". This year the competition will include young fashion designers from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, Poland, Belarus, Russia, Cyprus, Turkey, Croatia and Romania.

The fashion shows will be complemented by a lecture on opportunities for young designers online, led by a lecturer from the United Kingdom, as well as a seminar organised by the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia: "The place of design in business - fashion or necessity?"

Business development opportunities

"Intertextil Balticum" is the largest fashion industry exhibition in the Baltic states and the only professional exhibition offering the opportunity to introduce your latest range to consumers, meet and approach new partners and buyers, and agree on mutually beneficial deals.

The exhibition will showcase textile, clothing, leather goods and manufacturing equipment products from Latvian and foreign companies, which can also be purchased. Participants have registered from Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Russia, Poland, Belarus, Bulgaria, Italy, Spain, Belgium and even Pakistan, Cameroon, Turkey and China.

During the exhibition a Business Exchange will also operate, where participants can agree on specific deals and learn about business opportunities in other countries.

With the support of the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia, professional retailer associations and other purchasing-related organisations in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Estonia and Lithuania have been invited to visit the exhibition and meet individually with Latvian producers and exporters.

All information about events, exhibition participants, creative workshops, seminars and fashion shows can be found on the "Intertextil Balticum 2011" website at www.bt1.lv/bt1/intertextil/.

The exhibition "Intertextil Balticum 2011" is organised by the International Exhibition Company BT 1 in cooperation with the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia, the Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Latvian Light Industry Enterprises Association.