As a leading trade event for children’s fashion, childcare, footwear, and toys, Babykid Spain + Fimi has reaffirmed its status as a benchmark in the sector. Now in its fifth year as a combined platform, the synergy between the two shows bore fruit at the latest edition, held from January 22 to 24 at Feria Valencia in Spain. The event was defined by a strong international presence and dynamic attendance. 

With over 400 invited buyers from 54 countries worldwide, the trade show recorded a notable increase in visitor numbers. While official figures have yet to be confirmed, the surge in attendance was evident throughout the three-day event, with consistently busy aisles and high occupancy at brand stands.  

For the first time, the show took place in Hall 7 of the exhibition center, a spacious venue with natural light and outdoor views. The event hosted more than 500 brands from 37 countries, spanning children’s fashion, footwear, childcare, toys, and related products. This included 124 children’s fashion brands—such as Boboli, Rapife, Tuc Tuc, and Tutto Piccolo—alongside 36 footwear brands, including Ria Menorca, Pisamonas, and Caminito Shoes, and 136 early childhood toy brands.  

The segmented layout, with dedicated areas for each sector, created a seamless and intuitive visitor experience, reinforcing the natural synergies and close connections between industries. Childcare remains the show’s driving force, offering crucial support to the more constrained children’s fashion sector. The shared goal is clear: ensuring a healthy and dynamic children’s market that benefits all players involved.

Visitor experience a key factor

One of the defining factors behind the success of this fifth edition has been the event’s strong focus on buyer and visitor experience. As show director Alicia Gimeno explained in an interview with FashionNetwork.com, “The human component is crucial—when an industry is struggling, you have to be there to support it.” She emphasized the importance of trade shows that serve not only as business platforms but also as catalysts for industry growth: “A trade fair isn’t just about transactions; our goal is to help the sector expand. When they grow, we grow.”

The event was inevitably shaped, to some extent, by the aftermath of Dana, the storm that impacted various municipalities along the southern Valencian coast. Although the show itself remained unaffected in terms of logistics—the affected areas were located across the river—the emotional toll was significant. Some exhibitors, such as Eve Children, lost their entire product offerings due to the torrential rains, yet they still made it to the event with the support of the organizers.  

“We did everything we could to help because while business is our priority, it’s essential to humanize the process,” said Gimeno. She noted that while some international visitors required reassurance about the fair’s location, once they understood that the venue was far from the affected zones, attendance remained strong. However, the presence of military personnel stationed in one of the exhibition halls was a striking sight.  

Exhibiting brands also expressed satisfaction, both in terms of visitor traffic and business contacts made. Andalusian brand Creaciones Charo strengthened relationships with buyers from Latin America—one of the most represented regions at the fair, along with Central America and southern Italy. Meanwhile, other brands forged connections in unexpected markets.  

“We’ve been coming for years, and this edition is more international than ever,” said representatives from Madrid-based Tartaleta, who established contacts with buyers from across Latin America, Italy, and even Japan. As part of their trade show circuit, their subsequent stop was Playtime Paris, where they successfully expanded into new Asian markets such as South Korea and Taiwan.  

The team behind Galician brand Foque reflected on the evolving landscape of children’s fashion: “The industry has changed drastically. Before, you’d leave with orders; now, you leave with contacts. International buyers are present, and foot traffic is strong, but the real business impact will unfold later.” The brand, which will participate in the upcoming Children’s Show in New York in February, also revealed an unexpected connection with a potential distributor in Thailand—“a market that appreciates Spanish fashion but one we hadn’t explored before.”

One of the event’s standout moments was its signature runway show. This year’s edition, titled ‘Magic Winter Smiles,’ received substantial funding from ICEX. While organizers have not disclosed the exact amount of financial backing, the impact was evident in the scale of the production. Currently, this is the only collective children’s fashion runway show in Europe—and the only one that incorporates childcare products. “Once you take the financial burden off the brands, the budget can be directed toward other elements—such as set design, staging, and even snow cannons,” said Gimeno. These atmospheric touches, she added, enhanced the show’s appeal among international buyers.  

Held in Hall 8, just outside the main exhibition space, this year’s show featured brands such as Gocco, Boboli, Dadati, Nora Baby Bag By Cambrass, Newness, Tartaleta, Tuc Tuc, Nath, and Javilar Kids, along with Marae Kids, Azul Izal, and Artesanías Filita—the latter three supported by the Junta de Castilla y León—as well as Carello, representing the childcare sector.

The success of specialized trade shows

The strong performance of niche events such as Babykid Spain + Fimi and Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week underscores the value of highly specialized trade shows. These industry-focused gatherings serve as essential meeting points for both national and international players, demonstrating the importance of professionalization within the sector.  

Organized by Feria Valencia and the Spanish Association of Children’s Products (Asepri), with support from ICEX and the Valencian Institute of Business Competitiveness (Ivace), Babykid Spain + Fimi coincided with another major event in the children’s fashion industry—Pitti Bimbo in Florence. Celebrating its 100th edition this year, Pitti Bimbo brought together 170 brands at the Fortezza da Basso.  

According to Asepri, the children’s fashion and childcare sector in Spain generated €1.22 billion in revenue in 2022, marking a 9% increase from the previous year. However, projected growth for 2023 was more moderate, with activity expected to rise by 3%, a figure that has now been further adjusted to 2.8% for 2024.