TOWARDS LONDON

On the 14th and 15th January, eighteen Portuguese textile companies will be attending the most important trade show in London - The London Textile Fair. These companies are travelling to the United Kingdom with the support of Associação Selectiva Moda, within the From Portugal internationalisation project, supported by NSRF.

The 12th edition of The London Textile Fair, exclusive for pre-selected industry professionals, will take place at the Business Design Centre, in Islington, where, for two days, manufacturers and their agents will have the opportunity to showcase their products to buyers and to the most influential designers of the United Kingdom fashion scene. 18 Portuguese companies will be attending this trade show: A Têxtil de Serzedelo; Arco JRMG; Fábrica de Tecidos de Vilarinho; Gierlings Velpor; Gulbena Têxteis; Joaps Malhas; Lemar; Lipaco; Luís Azevedo & Filhos; NGS Malhas; Riopele; Saberes e Fazeres da Vila; Sanmartin; Teviz by Polopique; Tintex; TMG; Troficolor; Vilartex.

Gierlings Velpor - a constant presence in previous editions - will showcase its Autumn/Winter 15/16 collection, with special emphasis on velvet pieces, prints, jacquards and synthetic furs. The company intends to "keep in touch with current and new customers and, if possible, to increase the market share", as stated by Pedro Lima, the company's Sales Manager.

Making its debut at this fair, Joaps Malhas intends, with a positivist view, to work closely with their current customers and to attract new ones. As stated by Carla Araújo, the company's sales and marketing manager, the new collection aims "to be different from the previous collections and from competitors as well".

In the words of Jorge Pereira, the CEO of Lipaco, the company sees the English market as a high growth potential market at an industrial level. In this edition of the fair, the company will present a collection that highlights sewing threads and textured yarns, namely polyamides.

With the same view regarding this booming market, NGS Malhas will showcase fine knits and rich compositions in order to increase and enhance the sales volume.

Troficolor, a company that aims to consolidate internationally, intends "to take advantage of the historical connection between our two countries" and to devote to "promote synergy links that will benefit the Portuguese clothing manufacturers", their customers, as stated by Flávio Dias, the company's marketing director.

Vilartex arrives in the UK with a collection that emphasises the circular knitwear, the basics and the sustainable, organic and functional pieces, just to name a few. The company's expectations are primarily based on "attracting new customers, moving closer to the British/UK market and reuniting with agents and customers of our current markets", were the words of Carlos Coutinho, head of the export department.

With over 350 exhibitors from 18 European countries - the same number is expected for this edition - The London Textile Fair has become an unmissable meeting place for all the professionals of this industry. Its original layout along with the high quality and variety of the products exhibited, make this event a unique opportunity to discover the excellence and the trends of the fashion world. This fair is divided into four main areas, breaking down the exhibitors by industry: textiles, accessories and trims, print studios and vintage clothing.

The participation of Portuguese companies in THE LONDON TEXTILE FAIR is an initiative promoted Associação Selectiva Moda by with the support of European funds (NSRF), within the From Portugal project, and is part of a series of more than 87 international activities in 2014/2015, covering the entire textile and fashion sector, spread over four continents - Europe, Asia, Africa and America - with a total investment of 12 million euros.