After more than a year of isolation and non-exposure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the furriers of Kastoria found a way to exhibit their products by making the first international online fur exhibition.
In fact, according to the organisers, the First Kastoria International Fur Fair - Digital Edition, that took place from 25 to 29 May, went exceptionally after it was "visited" by merchants from 42 countries.
Christina Evangelos, scientific collaborator of the Association of Kastoria Furriers and Greek Fur Federation, said that the Association since last year was thinking about how to tackle the isolation imposed by COVID-19 on their industry.
"The coronavirus brought us very far from the markets since the big exhibitions were not held, which is traditionally the way in which the big works of furriers are done," she said.
"Fashion houses abroad started to launch their new collections online," she said, adding: "we saw that consumers are ready to welcome it. That's how we organised the digital exhibition."
Evangelou explained that fur is a special product "with many peculiarities due to the material, colors, texture and designs."
The Association of Furriers of Kastoria has a database with "at least 6,000 buyers".
Simply and without fear of the pandemic, trade visitors from 42 countries saw the products of Kastoria's fur factories, such as fur coats and cardigans, fur accessories and top quality furs, through the online exhibition.
Many commercial agreements were made.
The guests who took part were from:
- Russia,
- Argentina,
- Austria,
- Azerbaijan,
- Belgium,
- Canada,
- Czech republic,
- Denmark,
- Egypt,
- Finland,
- France,
- Germany,
- Hong Kong,
- Italy,
- Japan,
- South Korea,
- Kuwait,
- Mongolia,
- Namibia,
- South Africa,
- Spain,
- Turkey, and
- United Arab Emirates.
Kastoria is the only fur production centre in the western world.
After the success of the first online international exhibition, the Association is preparing for the regular, live, exhibition that will take place from 14 to 17 September at the Association's exhibition centre in Kastoria.
The Association of Furriers of Kastoria has 250 members, in which 80% have farms with mink.
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