Creatives need others to increase their visibility, to build a profitable network, to receive recognition or simply to sell their products. Flanders can get too small, then visiting the market abroad is a must. Flanders DC provides common booths at international fairs for the design and fashion industry.

Design

Every year Flanders DC gives designers and design companies a platform at some important design fairs, together with our Brussels and Walloon partners, under the title ‘Belgium is Design’. ‘Belgium is Design’ is used as a common label for the collective actions organized by Wallonie- Bruxelles Design Mode, MAD Brussels and Flanders DC.

Every year we are present at the Salone del Mobile in Italy, during the Milan Design Week. We offer local designers and brands the chance to showcase their innovations to an audience of international design professionals.

Maison&Objet in Paris is an important sales fair for interior objects in Western Europe. Every January, Flanders DC is present with a common booth. Design brands that want to expand their market can present their brands and get orders on an international level. Flanders DC ensures a large, central booth with good visibility and arranges the transport and extra communication for the participating designers.

"Being together with other designers at one booth creates a dynamics where you learn from each other."

Jonas Willems,

VONK

Belgium is Design at Maison&Objet, January 2019

Belgium is Design at Maison&Objet, January 2019 © Marek Swoboda


Fashion

We know that issues about export and international business are important and complex. Experience shows that personal contact with local experts is indispensable if you want to follow developments in their market and stay up to date. We help you with this through our international network and through special processes.

Twice a year we are present at the White trade fair during Milan Fashion Week, under the title 'The Belgian Focus'. We provide a common showroom where the participating fashion brands can show their collections to international buyers, agents and journalists. 

We regularly organize Business Development Trajectories to regions that are interesting to our designers and fashion companies. We set up a session in advance where they learn how business is done in that certain region. We provide a program on site so that they get to know the right local people (press, retailers, agents,...). We already went to Seoul, Japan, Germany and the US.

The International Expert Network of Flanders DC builds a bridge between Flemish fashion entrepreneurs and fashion experts in a number of important regions. In this list fashion professionals will find the profile and contact details of a number of experts for each region.

The United Fashion project is carried out by a cluster of eight European fashion support associations, from seven different countries, promoting entrepreneurial creativity and innovation to enhance business opportunities for European fashion designers. Flanders DC is one of the partners. You can find more information about the project here.

"The setting at the White fair makes sure that you can profile your brand internationally, even with little resources."

Virginie Morobé,

Morobé

The Belgian Focus at White Milan, September 2019

The Belgian Focus at White Milan, September 2019