GDS/GLS is showing continuous, strong growth in the Premium segment.

The demand for top-quality brands wishing to premiere at the shoe trade fair in Dusseldorf is undiminished and is threatening to push the exclusivity area including the concept areas "prime square ¨C value & tradition" and "white cubes ¨C contemporary design", recently located in hall 9, beyond its limits.

In order to respond to the high interest on the part of the exhibitors in GDS/GLS for March and thus to offer international buyers an even wider product range, the "white cubes" area and the fashion agency Klauser will move from hall 9 to hall 17 across the hallway.

Remaining in hall 9 are the concept area "prime square ¨C value & tradition" for classic-elegant shoe fashion as well as the two newly created areas, "exclusivity concept" for high-quality ladies' shoes and "the pulse", a platform for selected designers to present their special collections.

"The continued high demand in the exclusivity area proves that GDS/GLS is expanding its significance as major information and order platform for the entire show industry.

We must admit that we were somewhat surprised at the positive response, but this also confirmed that we chose the right path. Therefore, we decided at short notice to utilize hall 17.

This allows us to offer even more premium brands to our international buyers," explains GDS/GLS Project Director Kirstin Deutelmoser.

Messe Dusseldorf expects at least 300 top-quality brands, with more than 10% of these being new exhibitors, to display at the exclusivity area including its various segments. Among the first time exhibitors in Dusseldorf are: Belle by Sigerson Morisson, Cambardi, Duca del Nord, Gambini, Italigente, Nebuloni, Ruggieri, to&co, True Religion, TST, Cebo, Shubiz, UGG Australia.
 
The fashion agency Klauser will present brands such as Rocco P, Aristolasia, Lotto Leggenda, Maliparmi Shoes, La Martina Shoes or Moschino Shoes at GDS/GLS. The continuously updated exhibitor list will be available online at the end of January at the latest.

Next year, the shoe trade fair trio GDS/GLS and global shoes & accessories will be held from 14 to 16 March and from 12 to 14 September 2008 at the Exhibition Centre in D¨¹sseldorf.

Approximately 1,400 exhibitors from 45 countries will present their new shoe and bag collections for Autumn/Winter 2008/2009 as well as the trends for the current season.