Berlin/Barcelona: apologies from the head of Bread & Butter

By

Jean-Paul Leroy

Published
Aug 25, 2014

In an official statement published on Monday morning, Karl-Heinz Müller, head of Bread & Butter, sought to explain the cancellation of plans to move the show to Barcelona for its January 2015 edition.

Karl-Heinz Müller notes in the written statement that the move to Catalonia didn’t catch on with potential exhibitors and more generally among the fashion industry’s decision makers.

“In the current market situation they prefer to stick to the established format," he said. "Most exhibitors are focused on the healthy and reliable German market."

He also hopes to successfully attract the European and, in particular, the Spanish brands who had registered for the Catalan edition to Berlin.

Müller expressed feelings of accountability to the leadership at Fira de Barcelona as well as the City of Barcelona, and he has thanked them for their hospitality. Nevertheless, he does not exclude the possibility of organizing a future edition in Southern Europe.

Regarding such a possibility, "The benefits of an additional event in Barcelona with its Mediterranean flair are perfectly obvious, especially with regards to its exceptionally successful influence on fashion, and this despite the continuing crisis in Southern Europe.”

Finally, Müller remains adamant about ambitions for Seoul, where an edition is planned for September 2015. "All preparations run at full speed. BREAD & BUTTER will take place in Seoul in September 2015,” he insists.

Müller seems to have assessed the damage and the degree to which it might vitiate his future plans.

The statement concludes with an apology delivered to exhibitors, visitors and exhibition partners.