APLF Dubai 2023 from 13 to 15 March 2023 at the Dubai World Trade Center

With less than one month to go before the inauguration of APLF in Dubai, which will be held in the Sheikh Saeed Halls 1 – 3 of the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), the Organisers have reported growing international support for the event.

China back for business

Noteworthy was the burgeoning support from China after the easing of the zero-Covid policy was announced in late December, making international travel feasible once more for the Chinese business community. Once again Chinese suppliers and buyers will be present at APLF and be able to take full advantage of the business platform traditionally offered to the leather and fashion sectors by APLF since its inception in 1984. Asian exhibitors and buyers from India and Pakistan will now be joined by two Chinese pavilions and buyers, many of whom have been recruited by the many Chinese regional associations related to leather and footwear that wished to be part of this second edition of APLF in Dubai.

Global nature of leather and fashion reflected in participants’ profile

The fair will cover a gross exhibition area of 16,000 square metres and will host 14 national pavilions from the following countries: Brazil (2), China (2), Egypt, France (1), India (2), Italy (1), Pakistan (2), South Africa, Türkiye and Vietnam. This year’s event will be strengthened by the participation of eight regional associations from China along with others from Vietnam, India Pakistan, Egypt, South Africa, France, Italy and Brazil, amongst others. The favourable geographical location of Dubai as the Business Hub of the Middle East and the multiple flight destinations that come to the UAE will also contribute to the international nature of this APLF event.

aplf 2023
Serving the leather, manufacturing, and fashion sectors

The APLF Leather fair covers the whole supply chain of the leather making industry and offers hundreds of finished leathers for all application from footwear and leathergoods, to garments and upholstery. This makes APLF Leather a unique sourcing event in the Middle East and North African region (MENA). APLF’s sister fair, Fashion Access, will be held concurrently at the DWTC and is also supported by national and regional associations from China, Vietnam, and South Africa. A wide selection of footwear and leathergoods will be on display highlighting the future trends and colours that will populate the fashion scene in upcoming seasons.

More than just a trade fair

An APLF event consists not only of a trade fair where business can be negotiated and transacted and new contacts made, but also integrates colour and material trend spaces of great interest to designers.  There is also a series of conferences and seminars on technical and marketing aspects of the leather and fashion industries. This year sees the third edition of the Global Footwear Executive Summit (GFES) and seminars organised by Leather Naturally.  In total the workshops planned for this year’s event are: 2 courses about leather foundation and 2 courses about footwear design. For more onsite events, please click here.

Visitor registration to attend the event is now open

There is still time to register and receive your entry credential by e-mail so please click on Visitor Registration to register and gain free entry to this APLF event.

Aplf 2023 dubai map