Morocco’s Fashion Industry to be Showcased at ‘Maroc In Mode’ Exhibition

On October 26-27, the 15th “Maroc in Mode” exhibition will be held in Marrakech to showcase the country’s growing textile sector, said Drapers, a magazine specializing in fashion and retail.

The exhibition, organized by the Moroccan Textile Organization in partnership with the Foreign Trade Department and Maroc Export, will take place at the Moulay Hassan racing circuit in Marrakech on a surface area of 5000 square meters with the participation of 175 leading exhibitors from Morocco as well as from Turkey, Tunisia, China, Belgium, Germany, Spain, France, Portugal and Egypt.

For the first time, around 20 Moroccan companies from the leather and footwear sector will be participating, said Drapers, adding that alongside the 175 exhibitors, around 1,500 specialist visitors are expected from Europe, Africa and the US.

Maroc In Mode trade show will be divided into sectors such as fast fashion, denim, knitwear, sports and leisure and Moroccan brands. There will also be a new area dedicated to leather goods and footwear.

The Magazine described the event as an “ideal opportunity to discover the capabilities and innovation of Moroccan manufacturers and take advantage of Morocco’s new “ecosystem” approach to boosting the production and reputation of its garment and textile industries”

“Morocco is an exception in the “Euromed” region. Its exports have recorded sustained high growth for five consecutive years, and in 2016 its exports grew by 10%,” underscored Drapers, noting that the textile sector has embarked on an innovative new strategy focused on a series of “ecosystems” led by companies that act as “locomotives” for their branches and suppliers.

This ecosystems strategy is backed by the government, and locomotive companies assist small enterprises within the “ecosystem” to modernize and build up industrial progression, said Drapers.

In this respect, the magazine gave the example of the Denim Ecosystem where Morocco is planning to increase turnover by €240 million and create 14,800 new jobs by 2020.

The magazine also pointed out to the “forward-looking initiatives” developed in Morocco in this branch of the textile industry, including the recent launch of a 100% made in Morocco, ecofriendly denim collection designed in collaboration with François Girbaud under the label “Cleaning the Planet”.

“As of today, six fashion and textile ecosystems are established: Fast Fashion, Denim, Knitwear, Distribution of National Brands, Technical Textiles and Home Textiles. Every sub-sector has its own specifications and focus, but all share common goals and ambitious objectives,” said Drapers.

“Morocco is recognized as a major player in fast fashion with regards to its longstanding and established experience with the biggest vertical fast fashion brands and retailers in the world,” highlighted the magazine, citing proximity to Europe as one of the major competitive advantages of Morocco.