ABOUT AICI

Area is unique in the industry as its operations and events are entirely produced, financed and organized by the participating designers themselves through the Association Internationale des Createurs Independants (AICI), and combine both the official press fashion shows and world distribution showroom presentations for a select group of independent designers at a specific international level. 

The 12 AREA events from September 2003 to March 2006 represent the most recognized working projects for what is currently named AICI, the Association Internationale des Créateurs Indépendants, a designer trade group concept which had been years in the making via informal discussions among a number of relatively experienced designers showing in Paris.

The original priority was centered on helping to develop solutions for the men’s Paris designer industry as a result of ongoing decline in the attendance and budgets of international press and buyers for Paris menswear collections and presentations. Since then, the group has identified an equally urgent need for improvement in the women's sector of the industry as well.

The concept aims to serve the unique interests of selected independent designers at a specific international level. Independent designers are defined as designers or design firms which are not licensed for their primary collections, auto-financed, and perform in-house production and selling/distribution functions. An emphasis on artistic integrity, creativity, and appropriateness to the target market would also be prioritized. Areas of activity or interest currently include:

1. facilitating improved organization and execution of promotional, marketing and sales efforts for members

2. sharing of financial payment history information and risk factors, and identifying credit risk of retailers in the international market

3. sharing of production resource information, contacts and know-how worldwide

4. developing financial funding mechanisms uniquely tailored to meet members needs and objectives

5. assist in developing collective purchasing strategies for selected services and items to reduce costs

6. facilitate continuous improvement of artistic creativity, design quality, image and presentation of member collections