As part of the deal the Berlin’s specialist trade show organiser is also acquiring the shares of BRIGHT’s founders Marco Aslim and Thomas Martini, although they will both continue to act as Managing Directors with a creative influence over the trade show’s future.

SEEK and BRIGHT exhibited alongside one another for the first time this season, between the 8th and the 10th of July, presenting a combined total of approximately 600 brands at the Berlin ARENA. The shows will continue to run at the same time in the same location and will be expanded in future to provide “more attractive offer to local and international buyers”, it can be read in a press release issued by PREMIUM. The same source confirmed that both concepts will remain independent from one another in terms of content and each will retain its unique focus.

Jörg Arntz, Managing Director at PREMIUM Group’s said: “With the influential PREMIUM on the one hand and BRIGHT and SEEK on the other, we are strengthening Berlin’s reputation as a fashion hub while taking the lead with a powerful, progressive menswear selection. With an eye on the changes in the fashion market and the effects of digitalisation, we see creativity and consolidation as the two decisive factors in current market development. With this in mind, we focus on collaborative processes in the background in order to make use of synergies, combine strengths and exploit potential. The creative side of things, and with it the speed with which trends can be identified, will remain separate, in order to ensure that the individual shows retain a clear and unmistakable profile.”

Thomas Martini, Managing Director at BRIGHT, highlighted the importance of the personal connections the deal will bring, while recognizing that the Berlin-based group will provide them  the necessary support to develop BRIGHT into the leading European trade show platform for sports and streetwear BRIGHT was founded 10 years ago in Frankfurt by Marco Aslim and Thomas Martini. Five years ago, the trade show relocated from Frankfurt to Berlin. The show presents the segments streetwear, sportswear, skateboarding, board sports, sneakers and accessories. The range currently comprises around 300 labels.

PREMIUM was founded in 2003 and is the international specialist trade show for fashion in the advanced contemporary segment. It takes place twice a year at STATION-Berlin. With well over 60 000 visitors, more than 1 000 brands and a surface area of approximately 30 000 m2.

The parties have agreed not to divulge further details, including the purchase price.