Children’s apparel is among the top growth sectors in the Middle East garment industry, with demand growing at a rate of 15 to 20 percent annually. This year, MOTEXHA Spring 2004, the largest trade event for the fashion and textile industry, will see several children’s clothing and accessory brands in its ‘KidZone’ pavilion, all seeking a foothold in this lucrative growth market. The exhibition is being held between April 11 and 14, 2005 at Dubai International Exhibition Centre.
Chickeeduck, one of the most popular kids’ wear brands in Hong Kong is participating at the show for the first time to scout for franchise partners. The company is looking to expand its retail presence across the Middle East following its successful debut in the UAE in 2004 at Al Ghurair City, Dubai.
“As the largest event of its kind, we believe MOTEXHA is the ideal platform for us to meet and network with entrepreneurs and distributors from across the GCC. Our first outlet in Dubai has received positive response from customers across the region, and we are now recognized as a premium quality brand in a reasonable price segment. We are confident the show will allow us to increase market visibility in other countries in the region,” said Maher Bahri, Managing Director, GASP Dubai, distributors for Chickeeduck.
Founded in 1990, Chickeeduck currently has over 52 outlets in different parts of the world including two in Saudi Arabia (Jeddah and Riyadh). The brand includes several lines for babies and children ranging from 0 to 14 years old. Apart from clothes, Chickeeduck also offers accessories such as socks, shoes, bow ties, bibs, watches and even babies’ sleeping bags. Chickeeduck produces over 900 styles each year, making it one of the most prolific fashion houses in the Asia Pacific region.
Recent market studies indicate that the Arabian Gulf has the fifth largest population of children and second largest expenditure on children’s clothing and accessories globally. The countries in the GCC (Arabian Gulf Cooperation Council) have among the highest birth rates in the world, while nearly half the estimated 25 million population in Saudi Arabia and Oman is below the age of 14.
Stated Suman Manian, Show Manager, MOTEXHA, “KidZone offers buyers a chance to see first-hand the latest global trends in children’s clothing, and more importantly, to do business with a large number of children’s wear manufacturers from the Indian subcontinent, South East Asia and Europe. Our research indicates that over 57 percent of trade visitors to our shows in the recent past have requested more baby and children’s wear.”
