Author: Irina Karimova, FashionEducation.ru 

Irina Karimova: Christian, how you can evaluate the results of this season at CPM? Were all the goals which were planned, achieved?

Christian Kasch: I'm not satisfied unless my exhibitors are satisfied. So far I have only received positive feedback.
Of course, there is always this thing or that thing that can be improved upon. But that's just the way I am: Nothing is ever good enough for me; I always have to change something. That also keeps a trade fair from getting boring.

Irina Karimova: What are the plans for next season? What are the new ideas which you’d like to implement here?

Christian Kasch: First we need to gather and process all of the additional space requests for the next trade fair. The exhibitors always need more space for the Autumn/Winter season.
Then we also have new countries, such as Poland and the USA, that have expressed interest and need to be accommodated. For the time being, however, we don't plan to change anything in the overall structure of the fair.
At the next event we will also be celebrating the 20th anniversary of the trade fair, and of course we have lots of extras in mind for that.

Irina Karimova: And your personal attitude to fashion – what is it to you: business or rather lifestyle (or both)?

Christian Kasch: The main priority at our trade fair is of course business. Our exhibitors invest a great deal of money here, and we need to see to it that this pays off at their bottom line.
We are putting on a fashion trade fair here, however, and lifestyle should not be forgotten. Fashion is lifestyle, and that should be communicated in some way or another.

Irina Karimova:  What advice you can give to people who just come to the fashion industryω Is it worth coming?

Christian Kasch:
- The fashion industry is a tough business – so many factors are important here.
- The weather – winter jackets are only in demand in a cold winter. And, of course, good summer garments in a good summer.
- A collection must contain the right trends. You will fail if you're off the mark in that regard.
- Good contacts and having fun is the name of the game.

Allow me to speak briefly about our recent visit in Kiev:

Kiev was very important for us.
First of all, we wanted to meet with the press there, to show our face behind the trade fair and the organisation.
We wanted to get related to the journalists and find out what makes the Ukrainian market tick.
And of course we wanted to experience the fair again and make contact with the promoters. Perhaps we can collaborate on something in the future, or support each other. We do work in the same industry, after all.
Besides, we shouldn't forget how important the trade fair visitors from the Ukraine are to us. The Ukraine accounts for 11% of our international visitors, making it the second largest source of foreign visitors to our trade fair. And this number could potentially grow in the future.