100 Editions Strong: Fimi’s Bold Steps Toward Globalization and Innovating Children’s Fashion

BabyKid Spain + Fimi closes a memorable edition. Held from January 21st to 23rd at Feria de Valencia, the last date of the event specialized in children’s fashion and childcare was marked by the centenary of the celebration of Fimi, as well as by a positive response from both the exhibiting brands and the public, increasingly international, in response to the new initiatives carried out by the organization. The key factors? The positioning of the fair at European level as a B2B engine and the new distribution of the participating sectors, which includes fashion, footwear, accessories and childcare.

“It is one of the only fairs in Europe where orders are signed,“ Alicia Gimeno, director of the event, told Modaes. “In this edition, we have noticed an increase in international visitors who have liked the new distribution on two floors, as well as the exhibiting brands”, celebrates the responsible.

Coinciding with the centenary of the Fimi fair and in the sixth joint edition with the format with the greatest traction, BabyKid Spain, the universe of childhood has experienced, by sector, changes in its roadmaps. “While we see an impressive development in board games, in fashion they are still struggling to find the key to success -says Gimeno-; it is clear that internationalization is what sustains growth and, for this, companies have had to prepare themselves taking into account that the percentages of turnover in fashion are changing and 60% of the product is exported to other markets”.

Fimi has concluded its 100th edition with 7.21% more visitors

Faced with the complex context, the director of the fair prefers to open horizons. “The slump that the national industry is going through, encouraged by the low birth rate, could be balanced by opening new markets, but we are also facing a change in lifestyle,“ she analyzes.

We have noticed an increase in Italian visitors,“ Gimeno explains, and he also highlights markets such as Latin America, where, in line with Lores Segura, director of the Spanish Association of Children’s Products, she says, “we are facing a change in lifestyle.ola de Productos para la Infancia (Asepri), “we are focusing on other Central American countries, such as Mexico, Peru, Honduras, El Salvador and Colombia, which have surprised us positively,“ Segura continues.

Among the challenges facing the sector in the coming years, Segura points out that “opening up and consolidating the market is not easy and the businessman must be aware that it is a long-term investment”, as well as adapting to new audiences. “If you want to enter a specific market you will have to develop a collection and make an explicit product family for it, because they are other tastes and other trends,“ he adds.

As for the balance of attendance, the number of exhibitors at this edition increased by 7.21%, occupying two levels of the pavilion and reaching an increase of more than half of the square meters compared to the previous edition. Visitors of up to 56 nationalities were able to discover the trends presented by the 735 brands from 44 countries that participated in the fair.

Fimi has carried out a reorganization of the fair, dividing fashion, footwear and accessories on the one hand, and childcare on the other hand

“Fimi has taken on a very international character and we have noticed it,“ says the Spanish children’s fashion brand TucTuc, “unlike the national visitor, who we still haven’t managed to get to come to the fair”. One of the company’s challenges in the coming year will be to expand its operations internationally and “enter new markets, because the situation forces you to do so”.

At Bóboli, meanwhile, they highlight the increase in orders at this edition. “It’s something we don’t normally do at this fair, so the impressions are good because for us expansion is a key point within the strategy,“ they point out at the children’s fashion brand’s stand.

For the children’s footwear brand Conguitos, the new organization and market dynamics have favored the sector. “Now childcare stores mix clothing and footwear as well as toys, and being all together makes the market move much more”, they point out. In this edition, moreover, all participating brands from the footwear sector have at least one line of barefoot shoes. “In Europe there is not so much demand for this type of respectful footwear, it is being introduced now, but in Spain there is a lot of supply,“ they analyze.

Located on floor 3, the childcare section of BabyKid Spain + Fimi, was represented by brands such as Chicco, Izipizi, Dulce Bebé and Montiico, which exhibited their new products for the coming months. In the Valencian brand Olmitos point out the second hand as a challenge that childcare has been facing for years. “Before when you had children you bought everything you needed, now, however, if someone can leave you the crib, the better, so you don’t have to buy it, and that hurts the sector,“ they point out.

On the occasion of its 100th edition, Fimi Kids Fashion Week organized an exhibition marking the history of the fair, as well as a commemorative fashion show that took place on the first day of the fair, with the participation of Babidu, Babidu, Fimi Kids Fashion Week and Fimi Kids Fashion Week.Babidu, Babybol, Belan, Cua-Cuak, Dadati, Eva Schulz Showroom, Fina Ejerique, Foque, Granlei, Javilar Kids, Manuela Montero, Martín Aranda, Mayoral, Newness, Ponto por Ponto, Rapife, Sardon, Siena Hair Accesories, Tartaleta and Tuc Tuc. In addition, the organization invited children’s fashion designers to parade at the event.

“If I ask you how many adult designers you can tell me, it could be infinite; but if I ask you how many children’s fashion designers you can tell me, maybe one hand is enough,“ says Alicia Gimeno. “We wanted to give that prominence back to the designer and thank them,“ adds the director of Fimi.

According to the latest data compiled by Asepri, the children’s products sector reached a turnover of €1,134 million in 2024, after a period of market adjustment and moderation, of which exports account for more than 50% of total turnover. In addition, the online channel accounted for only 9% of sales, “with a clear trend of progressive growth until 2026”, according to Asepri.

This edition of the fair coincided with other international events, such as Pitti Bimbo, held in Florence, Italy. Following the trade fair calendar, Playtime, which will be held in Paris until January 26th, takes over.