Igedo Exhibitions can look back on a long and eventful history. What was founded in 1949 by Willi Kronen as the Interessengemeinschaft Damenoberbekleidung, or Igedo for short, became the most successful company for fashion trade fairs in Europe in the years that followed. Successful formats such as “Collections Premieren Düsseldorf” (CPD) or “Collection Première Moscow” (CPM) were launched by Igedo and still stand for exceptional expertise in the fashion sector today. The twice-yearly trade fairs FASHN ROOMS and SHOES DÜSSELDORF were also firmly established and offered clear, service-orientated segmentation tailored to the needs of the international order platform at their respective times. In future, TWODAYS will present fashion, shoes, accessories and bags together under one trade fair roof and Neonyt Düsseldorf will take place as a licensed event parallel to TWODAYS at the Areal Böhler and thus in the fashion metropolis of Düsseldorf.
History
Tradition, Cooperation, Innovation
Fashion Show on the "Kö", 1949
Fashion show on the Königsallee in Düsseldorf in 1949. The grey veil of war was to be replaced by chic colour and flair and fashion was to be fun again. The Igedo actively contributed to this process and brought manufacturers and retailers together at their trade shows.
Igedo at Ehrenhof, Düsseldorf
In its early days Igedo was held at Düsseldorf’s Ehrenhof venue. Depicted here is the entrance area around 1952. This was later followed by a move into Messe Düsseldorf’s larger premises which offered considerably more exhibition space allowing the trade show to continue to grow.
Igedo Trade Show CPD dominates
From 1982 to 2012, i.e. for exactly 30 years, the Igedo organized the “Collections Premieren Düsseldorf” (CPD). With some 60,000 trade visitors in the 1990s CPD was the world’s most important and largest fashion trade show held twice a year. To this day the ordering days in Düsseldorf still bear this name.
Building Bridges with Russia
In 2003, the Igedo Company launched CPM – Collection Première Moscow. The twice-yearly international fashion trade show was the largest and most important order trade fair in Eastern Europe. In 2017, the Igedo Company sold CPM – Collection Première Moscow to OOO “Messe Duesseldorf Moscow”.
1949
Company founded
The company was founded in March 1949 bearing the name “Interessengemeinschaft Damenoberbekleidung” (Igedo). At the first trade show 24 firms were presented under the roof of the historic Ehrenhof premises.
1950s
A desire for fashion in the post-war period
After the war years the founders wanted to pep up the damaged fashion industry and dress women in modern clothing again. The grey veil of war was to be replaced by chic colour and flair and fashion was to be fun again. The Igedo actively contributed to this process and brought manufacturers and retailers together at their trade shows. Already by 1954 72 foreign firms were participating in the event.
1960s
Internationalisation proceeds apace
1961 sees the holding of the 50th Igedo and internationalisation proceeds apace. 1965 sees Manfred Kronen join the company. In 1969 exhibitor numbers exceed the 1,000 mark.
1970s
Move to the Düsseldorf Trade Halls
The Igedo moves to the then most state-of-the-art exhibition centre in the world – the Düsseldorfer Messehallen.
1980s
Düsseldorf as a new fashion location
Alongside Paris and Milan Düsseldorf establishes itself as the new fashion location in Europe and organizes the first German designer shows. 1982 sees the holding of the first “Collections Premieren Düsseldorf” (CPD).
1990s
Expansion
Expansion into various international markets like Great Britain, Hong Kong and Shanghai. In Germany, too, Berlin is conquered as a new fashion location with MODA BERLIN that is held a total of 8 times. 1999 sees Igedo celebrate its 50th birthday and, at the same time, the holding of 222nd fashion trade show in Düsseldorf. The event is celebrated at the Tonhalle venue.
2003
CPM – Collection Première Moscow
In 2003 the Igedo Company launches CPM – Collection Première Moscow, positioned right from the start as the most important fashion trade show in Eastern Europe.
2008
New approach
Phillip Kronen joins the company as a Managing Partner. Messe Düsseldorf is a 95% shareholder of Igedo. The company undergoes structural and personnel reorientation.
2010
CPI – Collection Première Istanbul
August 2010 sees the Igedo Company enter into a cooperation with the Istanbul Textile and Apparel Exporters’ Association (ITKIB) for the Near and Middle East. CPI – Collection Première Istanbul is held on two occasions but has to be discontinued for strategic reasons.
2011
CPD SIGNATURES
The Igedo Company launces CPD SIGNATURES, a new event for contemporary brands and designers at the exhibition centre.
2012
THE GALLERY and THE GALLERY BERLIN
The CPD SIGNATURES concept is reworked. CPD is removed from the market. Within Germany the Igedo Company launches two new events. THE GALLERY, an event held both in Düsseldorf and Berlin, showcases a discerning selection of avantgarde, designer collections and accessories. THE GALLERY BERLIN is housed for the first time at the fashion location of Berlin, at the >Cafe Moskau< event venue. In July the Igedo and its events leave the exhibition centre in Düsseldorf and move into the building of the former American Consulate General on Cecilienallee. The Igedo event THE GALLERY DÜSSELDORF thereby celebrates its premiere at the new location. Another innovation for the fashion location of Düsseldorf was decided by Fashion Net Düsseldorf after consultation with the fashion sector and with the approval of Philipp Kronen: "CPD" remains the umbrella brand for the ordering periods in Düsseldorf.
2013
Changes
2013 sees further changes and lots to celebrate. In July THE GALLERY BERLIN moves from the event location >Cafe Moskau< into the larger, more centrally located >Opernwerkstätten< venue in Berlin-Mitte. Its sister event THE GALLERY DÜSSELDORF is firmly established in the North Rhine-Westphalian fashion location at the >Botschaft< venue. Rounding off the GALLERY family the Igedo Company launces a new order platform for children’s fashion in the form of THE LITTLE GALLERY that is thenceforth to be held twice a year. By assuming the role of foreign representation for Central Asia Fashion in Kazakhstan for the German-speaking countries Igedo takes a further step towards internationalisation. This year CPM celebrates a double anniversary: February sees the holding of the 20th edition of the trade show and September sees the now largest fashion trade show celebrate its 10th anniversary in Eastern Europe. This event is and remains a key part of the Igedo portfolio.
2014
300th Igedo event
The Igedo Company holds its 300th event. April sees the company remove the Berlin edition of THE GALLERY from the market so it can concentrate on its Düsseldorf homebase. THE LITTLE GALLERY is incorporated as a segment into THE GALLERY DÜSSELDORF. By renting a third location, the >Hammer Hallen<, the Igedo Company finally underlines its leading role at the location.
2015
New home at Areal Böhler
The GALLERY moves from the “Botschaft” venue into the trendy industrial Areal Böhler site, thereby heralding in a fundamental change at the Düsseldorf location. Furthermore, the occasion and bridalwear event, RED CARPET, moves to its new home, Areal Böhler. Sadly, the LITTLE GALLERY has not generated enough support on the market and is discontinued again after a total of three editions. Still now there is no functioning trade show platform for children’s wear in Germany.
2016
The Gallery grows
The GALLERY at Areal Böhler grows once again and now occupies an additional hall at the trendy industrial site. In the wake of this the RED CARPET is renamed GALLERY EVENING & OCCASION thereby rooting it more firmly in the GALLERY. A new addition here is the GALLERY SHOWROOM which specifically allows agencies a ten-day presence at Areal Böhler as part of the GALLERY, thereby offering a real alternative to renting a showroom throughout the year.
2017
Launch of Gallery SHOES / Sale of CPM
The end of August sees the GALLERY SHOES being held for the first time under the management of the Igedo Company. The event is received very positively by the market already at its first edition replacing GDS, Germany’s most important shoe trade show, run for 55 years by Messe Düsseldorf. Right on time for its 15th anniversary CPM is sold to Messe Düsseldorf Moscow as an authoritative, leading trade show for Eastern Europe. At the same time on 1 October after nearly 25 years, the Igedo once again becomes a purely family-run company as the shares in Messe Düsseldorf pass entirely to the Kronen family.
2018
Establishment and expansion
With a total of four trade shows (GALLERY and GALLERY SHOES each running twice) at the homebase at Areal Böhler in Düsseldorf the Igedo brings the fashion location of Düsseldorf back into ever increasing focus for buyers from throughout Europe. Even after the concluded sale of CPM the Igedo still remains responsible for the international exhibitors and visitors and in February already celebrates the 30th edition of CPM.
2019
70th Birthday
Igedo celebrates – fashionable-dynamic- its 70th anniversary and further develops at the same time their format GALLERY. With the SHOWROOM CONCEPT Igedo already open since three years successfully the doors since of AREAL BÖHLER for the most important fashion agencies. By implement of the addition FASHION Igedo Company underlines the clear line of Gallery, which define from 2020 clearly Gallery FASHION and Gallery SHOES .
2020
Gallery FASHION & SHOES
Gallery, founded in 2012 in Berlin as a deliberately changed follow-up event of the large CPD, is already celebrating its 30th edition in 2020. Aligned to the needs of the market and constantly sharpening its profile, Gallery with its current basic forms FASHION and SHOES, is by now indispensable for the portfolio of the Igedo Company after only six years. Above all, Gallery is the central foundation of the fashion location Düsseldorf. Like almost all companies, the Igedo Company is experiencing a very difficult year. But with a lot of courage and strength, the Igedo Company manages to hold three of its four trade fairs in Düsseldorf. Only the Gallery FASHION in July has to be merged with the Gallery SHOES at the end of August.
2021
“New rooms for even more creativity”
In 2021, the Corona pandemic is shaping life almost everywhere in the world; only a few things are still possible at all with severe restrictions. The events of the Igedo Company are also badly affected. Only the Gallery Shoes at the end of August deserves the claim to be a trade fair again. CPM, which takes place in Moscow at the beginning of September, can also claim to have been a trade show. But it remains very difficult for all market participants in the apparel and footwear industry. Major problems in the global supply chains further complicate the situation. Against this backdrop, the Igedo Company is repositioning its events in Düsseldorf for 2022 and saying goodbye to the Gallery - trade show format after exactly ten years. FASHN ROOMS and SHOES DÜSSELDORF will be the names of the two new formats at the home base in Düsseldorf in the future and will herald the next chapter of successful business formats in the soon-to-be 75-year history of the Igedo with a contemporary interpretation.
2022
New name - new fairs
After more than 20 years, the Igedo change the name in October. Igedo Company becomes Igedo Exhibitions. It is announced in August - Neonyt goes Düsseldorf. The première is in January 2023: Neonyt licensed by Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH will come to Düsseldorf and Igedo Exhibitions will take over the complete operational implementation and planning. Igedo Exhibitions also announces the cooperation with the international fashion fair IFCO - Istanbul Fashion Connection. The IFCO Fashion Fair will take place at Istanbul Expo Center. At IFCO, Igedo Exhibitions will be responsible for the area "Europe Selection".
2023
The Igedo is experiencing a difficult trade fair year
Corona has left its mark on the clothing and footwear industry. Even more than other sectors, almost all players are fighting for their economic survival and this is of course also reflected in the trade fairs organised by the Igedo. However, the Igedo is countering this with a great deal of commitment and personal endeavour and is working towards its 75th anniversary. For example, the Neonyt trade fair, which specialises in sustainable fashion, is successfully organised in partnership with Messe Frankfurt at the Düsseldorf location, but the withdrawal from the CPM fashion fair in Moscow due to the war weighs heavily.
2024
IGEDO HONOURED WITH THE FASHION BUSINESS AWARD DÜSSELDORF
2024 was another difficult year for the clothing and shoe industry and therefore also for the FASHN ROOMS Rooms and SHOES DÜSSELDORF trade fairs. And this in the anniversary year of Igedo Exhibitions, of all things, as the company celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2024. The absolute highlight was certainly the presentation of the Fashion Business Award by the City of Düsseldorf. The prestigious prize, which has been awarded since 2015, is presented annually by the City of Düsseldorf to deserving companies / personalities. Igedo and the Kronen family of shareholders were particularly pleased to receive the award from Lord Mayor Dr Stefan Keller in a festive setting. Despite the difficult circumstances, the Fashion Aware Club was also founded in 2024, which deals with the diverse content of a sustainable overall context.