WSN Unveils Innovative Experiential Trade Show ‘Jill’ for October Launch
Trade show organizer WSN is expanding its portfolio with an innovative new event focused on collaborative works, exclusive pieces, and limited-edition collections. The company announced the launch of ‘Jill,’ an experiential trade show designed to bridge creativity and commerce in the fashion industry.
Scheduled for its debut from October 2-5, the event will run parallel to Paris Fashion Week’s spring 2027 presentations. The show will be integrated within the established Premiere Classe venue while featuring an additional cultural program across various off-site locations throughout the city.
The format divides the four-day event into two distinct phases: the opening two days will cater exclusively to industry professionals, while the concluding days will welcome general public attendance, allowing consumers to purchase directly from participating exhibitors.
WSN Chief Executive Officer Frédéric Maus expressed enthusiasm about the venture, describing it as a fresh avenue for creativity within the Premiere Classe framework. He emphasized the company’s commitment to exploring uncharted territories and fostering connections between diverse communities, noting that the new platform will present visitors with innovative creative concepts aligned with contemporary consumer preferences.
The inaugural edition has attracted participation from more than a dozen brands, featuring notable names such as Rabih Kayrouz, Belgian designer Jean-Paul Lespagnard, and Christine Phung among the confirmed exhibitors.
The cultural component of the event will span multiple prestigious venues across Paris. The Pierre Passebon gallery will present a dedicated fashion exhibition, while additional programming will take place at the spaces designed by French-Iranian architect India Mahdavi, The Pill art gallery near the Palais Royal, and the Ofr library.
The event draws its name from a magazine that originated in the 1980s under Babeth Djian’s leadership. Jean-Pierre Blanc, founder of the International Festival of Fashion, Photography and Accessories of Hyères, serves as the artistic director for this new venture.
Blanc characterized the project as an exceptional Parisian adventure within WSN’s framework, building upon four decades of festival experience and unwavering support for emerging designers. He described the event as a creative hub welcoming buyers, industry professionals, collectors, journalists, fashion enthusiasts, students, artisans, artists, and the general public.
The artistic director, known for championing emerging talent, recently departed from his role as managing director of the Villa Noailles association following controversies surrounding financial management and unpaid invoices related to the Hyères festival.
WSN currently manages several established trade shows including Premiere Classe and Matter & Shape, which align with Paris Fashion Week, alongside Who’s Next, Bijorhca, Curve Paris, and Interfilière Paris scheduled later in the year. The company recently introduced the Run hybrid concept in collaboration with ANDAM, combining wholesale showroom functions with runway presentation spaces specifically designed for emerging brands.