Leading European fabrics show Première Vision has announced it is launching Knitwear Solutions, a platform for flat bed knitted fabrics - and about time too!

The new knitwear initiative will go live at the September show in Paris. For many years PV has been dominated by Europe's top weavers but now with knits becoming stronger in fashion, many circular and warp knitted fabric producers exhibit at the show.

This week's show which finishes today was a good example, with a large area of the floor space being given over to knitted fabric producers showing intimate apparel, sportswear and outerwear fabrics.

True knitwear (sweaters - generally knitted on flat-bed or flat knitting machines) has never been properly represented. Indigo, a designers' show within the Première Vision Pluriel concept at PV was until recently awash with agencies selling knitwear swatches. However, a quick visit to Indigo on Tuesday revealed that it is now completely dominated by companies selling digital print deigns - with barely a knitted swatch in sight.

The only decent show where you can see real creativity in knitwear design (apart from the garment shows) is at Pitti Filati in Florence, a leading show for creativity in yarns for knitwear and other textiles.

According to PV, Knitwear Solutions was born from the observation that fashion brands are developing comprehensive collections with knits playing a central role. Knitwear represents about 20% to 40% of the product offer in ready-to wear brands, PV says.

"Yet the flat-bed knitting industry is missing at Première Vision, the world's leading show of clothing fabrics, which aims to propose the most comprehensive offer of textiles to fashion companies," PV organisers said in a statement.

Market study

A market study prepared exclusively for Première Vision by the IFM took a detailed look at the knitwear development process. As a result, Knitwear Solutions intends to provide a concrete response to the market for flat-bed knits, which is an industry apart made up of a community of specialists.

"Knitwear Solutions will bring together the various industry players in the flat-bed knit offer, starting with knitters, but also including spinners, knit studios (already at Indigo), machinery manufacturers, experts serving buyers, product heads and designers in charge of flat-bed knit collections," PV organisers said.

"This new project will present primarily sweaters and related products." Knitwear Solutions will be launched at the Première Vision show on 19, 20 and 21 September 2012. The project will have its own space with a specific forum and a strong identity, much like the Atelier Denim.

"With Knitwear Solutions, Première Vision continues its role as a platform for meetings between the industry's key players, fostering business opportunities and professional and creative synergies," organisers say.    

Further information