PORTUGUESE LUXURY EMBRACES ITALY
Nine Portuguese companies are in Milan to show which lace, fabrics and wools will embody the luxury outfits of major Italian and international fashion brands in spring-summer 2015.
Nine Portuguese companies are in Milan to show which lace, fabrics and wools will embody the luxury outfits of major Italian and international fashion brands in spring-summer 2015.
Paulo de Oliveira, Penteadora, Tessimax (at Ideabella), Albano Morgado, Lemar, Riopele and Sanmartin (at Moda In) and Arco Têxteis and Somelos Tecidos (at Shirt Avenue) are the Portuguese companies at the fabrics trade fair Milano Unica, with quality proposals that promise to warm up the summer season next year.
Wools, fresh and light, from Paulo de Oliveira, Penteadora, Tessimax and Albano Morgado are on the spotlight on this warm season that, wrongly, many think is not the one for this raw material of excellence. «We’re presenting articles with a very casual look in wool/cotton blends, ideal for dyeing post-manufacturing», unveils António Teixeira, sales director at Penteadora. «In terms of colour palette, the collection is mainly punctuated by grey, light blue and red tones», he adds. Assets to win in an Italian market «which is the world trendsetter» and in a trade fair that is «a worldly renown platform, mainly on men articles», underlines sales director of Penteadora, a reference exhibitor in the exclusive area Ideabiella.
In shirting, the trends are dictated by the new collections of Riopele, Arco Têxteis e Somelos Tecidos, three of the major names of this sector in Europe. Affordable luxury is the motto of Riopele’s proposals for spring-summer 2015. Double fabrics, jacquards and summery tweeds are some of the highlights of the company’s offer, with collections «always focused in the latest trends in terms of new materials and colours, not forgetting our core business: PVL - ceramic polyester / viscose / elastane», say commercial director Rita Fortes. Implemented in several markets, to where it exports 98% of its production, Riopele has in Italy «one of the countries where our presence is quite substantial, always with clients of the medium/high segment», such as Giorgio Armani, emphasizes the commercial director.
Arco Têxteis, on its side, exhibits «products where lightness and freshness are imperative, with very cheerful colours – watery, pool, lagoon, sea. Yarns are fine for a greater comfort and quality and graphics are “placid” and well defined» says salesman Manuel Rodrigues. «Italy still is a fundamental market for Arco Têxteis. Besides, it always concentrates buyers from other nearby countries that after won’t go to other trade fairs», he explains.
The Portuguese offer is complemented with lace by Sanmartin, chosen by haute-couture and bridal fashion houses, and the irreverent fabrics for beach fashion, and not only, by Lemar, indispensable for beachwear players such as Vilebrequin.
The participation of these Portuguese companies at Milano Unica, which takes place February 11th - 13th, is an initiative promoted by Associação Selectiva Moda with the support of European funds (Qren), under the project From Portugal. This project includes more than 65 international actions planned for 2014, which cover the entire textile and fashion chain, divided by four continents – Europe, Asia, Africa and America – with a total investment of EUR 9 million.
