The market leader among costumiers, RUBIE’S COSTUME COMPANY INC. (Hall 9/D-57, E-58; Hall 12.2/P-24), with subsidiaries all over the world, reflects the great variety on offer. The company offers imaginative fancy dress costumes that are grounded in reality but also infused with irony. This exhibitor covers almost all of the licensing themes that work in fancy dress with additional style-setting accessories. Besides the classics from the DC Comics superhero universe, other themes still popular at the moment include Harry Potter, Star Wars and the heroes from the Netflix series Stranger Things. Netflix has announced the production of a third series, which is expected to air on 4 July 2019. And quite a few of us like to don the garb of the hero with red-and-white stripes from the Where’s Wally hidden picture book series for children from British illustrator Martin Handford.

Stand-out costumes

In any event, while looking to identify with our favourite heroes, we still want our own individual costumes. Why throw on a standard costume, when you can have yours personalised? French company Fame Bros Ltd (Cinereplicas; Hall 5/D-73) offers an extensive range of Harry Potter costumes and accessories. Brand new to its offering are Quidditch costumes that can be personalised with the name and number of a star of the sport using iron-on transfers. Or perhaps you’ll want to add your own name and become part of this magical world.

Fake beards are a great way to change how we look. BALIONU SALIS (Hall 9/C-31) sends its handmade beards from Lithuania all over the world. Health and hygiene as well as avoiding skin irritation are of great importance to the company.

You can get your message across in an original way using headgear. Check out, for instance, the new Party Blower Crown offered by LAPALOMA GmbH from Germany (Hall 3A/B-07). Made of plastic tubing, it combines acoustic signals with the effect of a crown, the prongs of which stand up when the wearer blows into the crown.

The bathtub can also be the right setting for fancy dress. The “Masquerade Bath” from Tinti GmbH & Co. KG (Hall 4/D-05, E-02), with vibrant bath colours and fizzing bath salts, brings fun to the tub, even after getting out. The set contains one of three animal masks (tiger, zebra or gorilla motif), which can be cut out and worn.

Table bombs are not just for children’s birthdays. Constri AG from Switzerland (Hall 9/B-47) has come up with a “Selfie Table Bomb” innovation. This safe indoor table bomb is filled with fun items that can be used to create amusing selfies, including false teeth, moustaches and masks.

Amscan (Hall 9/A-55, C-58, A-54) is one of the market leaders in decorations. It covers all of your party needs, from paper chains, foil balloons and costumes through to paper cups. Its offering shows that the festive article business is also heavily influenced by successful licensing themes nowadays.

The trend among firework sellers is still towards cake fireworks. Once lit, the cakes fire a pre-programmed light show into the sky. These are offered by COMET Feuerwerk GmbH (Hall 9/C-04), for example. The Twin Power innovation under the Keller Feuerwerk brand fires 18 shots with a calibre of up to 18 millimetres around 40 metres high. The effects last for approximately 35 seconds.

WECO Feuerwerk GmbH (Hall 9/E-33, F-34) is also putting its faith in cakes. With 200 shots, the Madhouse offers one of the most spectacular experiences, with stunning comets followed by twinkling star bouquets and golden swirlers. The cake with four individual batteries shoots fireworks up to 60 metres into the air for 100 seconds.

And children do not have to miss out on all the firework fun, either. Special kid-friendly fireworks can be used all year round without registration. Nearly all exhibitors in this product group also offer everything from toy torpedoes and humming tops through to strobes for small impromptu garden firework displays during birthdays and barbecues.

Expert knowledge, the newest trends and latest developments of the industry. Stay well-informed with the monthly visitor newsletter of Spielwarenmesse^®: subscribe now