A+A 2013 A+A recovers and shows itself once again as an international leader The 2013 show welcomed more than 63,000 professional visitors in an optimistic atmosphere A+A has once again shown an increase in the number of visitors. This confirms once again its leading position in world markets as a platform for communicating and doing business in the health and safety sector. A+A is next to be held in Düsseldorf in 2015, from October 27th to 30h More than 63,000 professionals (there were 60,100 in 2011) visited this trade show, revealing growth by about 5%. Most of them come to learn about the latest trends in terms of the main the- mes: safety, security and health at work, plus spe- cial equipment for emergency and catastrophe res- ponders. Of every four visitors, more than one came from abroad (55 countries were participa- ting). Invited countries in the past were Russia (2009) and Poland (2011) This 2013 edition of A+A invi- ted Turkey, with an active population of about 23 million people representing great employment potential and the use of corporate wear and per- sonal protective equipment. Halil Etyemez, Vice minister of Labour and social Security in Turkey, was in Düsseldorf and stated his country is working hard to improve health and safety policies in the workplace by passing stricter laws and long-range regulations. The halls and aisles were active as mar- kets flow Suppliers were in a good mood as they walked the aisles, and this is reflected in the words of Klaus Bornack President of the Fair Trade Consulting Committee at A+A 2013 and General Director of Bornack GmbH & Co. KG, “A+A is the locomotive in business for this especially dynamic sector of safety and security at work. Every day, the halls were filled with visitors, who revealed that quality is a priority in decision-making. It is obvious that clients invest in keeping their workers safe for this, among other things, improves competitiveness. They also show an interest in comfort, design, and the suitability of equipment and supplies to their specific needs, to avoid both over and under-pro- tection”. Werner Heitmann, Director of Communications and Sales Marketing of Dräger for A highlight for Corporate Fashion A+A has become a global p lat form in terms of what is known as corporate fashion / image wear. In fact, Corporate Fashion is one of the major events in the sector. Manufacturers showcase their products, along with suppliers offering systems (full services), textile products and materials in general, all addressing those who make uniforms and image wear. As a forum showing trends, this event announces the growing relevance of corporate fashion / image wear, so that fashion is a source of inspiration in the creation of uniforms, while offering light protec- tion. The trend is sure to continue to grow over the next years. There are multiple causes for this: a uniform desig- ned and made to conform to the image of a com- pany will visually convey this image to clients. This is especially important in terms of a carefully stu- died image in cases of virtual products that are not tangible and seen, e.g. services. Those who choose to invest in quality image wear and corporate fas- hion are showing two things: that they appreciate their staff, and that they wish to build loyalty among them, to form a cohesive team. At the same time personal protection equipment markets reveal growth and innovation, workwear is also growing in industrial countries, in spite of the financial-economic crisis. This is true for Germany, for instance, as the largest market in the European Union; also, for Asian markets, now continuously growing. We must include those “older” industrial countries like the USA and Japan. Distribution channels include online stores and catalogue sales, as happens in other sectors, always appreciated and reflecting growth. Though in terms of personal protective equipment and cor- porate fashion, those classic distribution channels, e.g. textile service companies, traditional stores, and even manufacturers themselves, maintain a leading position for there are evident advantages: care and replacement of products, accessory deli- veries, and payment terms over a period of time. The novelties in this 2013 show in terms of quality, functionality, comfort and the latest fashion trends were seen during the A+A Fashion Show, one of the major parts of this trade show.