Expo brings latest fur products to Moscow

Global fur products manufacturers convened in Moscow in August to showcase their latest wares at the famous Central House of Artists on Krymsky Val, which has hosted the events since it was launched in 1999. As usual, the expo provided a forum for the biggest global fur companies from Italy, Greece, Canada, Germany, France and Argentina as well as the largest russian fur producers, sellers and distributors to interact, showcase their assets and plan for the future.

Moscow gears up for September fashion shows

A series of fashion activities comes up this month, making it the most "fashionable period" in Moscow. The first to kick off will the Moscow Fashion Exhibition – a Russian prêt-a-porte showcase at the majestically designed Gostiny Dvor exhibition center right behind the Red Square – will feature international designers of prêt-a-porte and related products from France, Germany, UK, Italy, Latvia, and, of course, Russia. The glamor event, which was launched in 1994, will mark the 10th anniversary of prêt-a-porte shows in Russia. Another big fashion event, called Couturier of the Year, which will name the best local designers in the fashion industry in 2004, comes up in the middle of the month. The event will showcase the best casual wear, women’s eveningwear, avant-garde and conceptual clothes for three days.

Local carmakers shine at Moscow auto show

The Moscow International Auto Expo-2004 took place in the Russian capital in August. Local auto makers such as AvtoVaz, GAZ, ZIL, KAMAZ and Izh Auto use the occasion to showcase their traditional products as well as concept cars – throwing light on the direction which the local auto industry plans to grow in the nearest future.

However, this year’s show, unlike the previous editions, saw a fewer number of foreign car producers as BMW, DamlerChrysler, Peugeot, Renault, Nissan and Toyota, refused to turn up, saying the Moscow auto pageantry’s status has fallen, compared to the past ones. But other foreign carmakers – Hyundai, Kia and Skoda – attended the show. Hyundai presented its Hyundai Tucson, KIA presented its new models – KIA Cerato, KIA Picanto and KIA Spectra, while Skoda presented its second generation of Octavia, which goes on sale later this year.

Russian producers, however, took a maximum advantage of the foreign giants’ conspicuous absence by occupying more space and exhibiting more cars than they had ever done before. For instance, AutoVaz – the Samara-based maker of the ubiquitous Lada cars on Russia and CIS roads, displayed Lada Kalina, which goes into serial production next month and Lada Priora, which will replace Lada 110 model, while GAZ, the Nizhny Novgorod-based giant, presented its new, modernized Volga GAZ 31107.