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ANA LEHMANN IS GOING TO TOKYO TO SUPPORT PORTUGUESE EXHIBITORS IN “INTERIOR LIFESTYLE”

The Portuguese State Secretary for Industry, Ana Lehmann, is going to visit the seventeen Portuguese exhibitors that participate, from May 30th to June 1st, in “Interior Lifestyle Tokyo”. It’s the 10th consecutive presence of the “From Portugal” entourage on this fair, organized by Selectiva Moda.

In a market where it is necessary to build a relationship of trust and an image of stability before the local entities, the entourage “From Portugal”, promoted by Associação Selectiva Moda, intends to celebrate with special enthusiasm the presence of Portuguese products in “Interior Lifestyle Tokyo” for the 10th consecutive year. Ana Lehmann, the Portuguese State Secretary for Industry, will be visiting the various Portuguese exhibitors, accompanied by Mário Jorge Machado and Paulo Vaz, respectively the vice-president and the general director of the ATP - Textile and Clothing Association of Portugal.

Looking for new business opportunities and to deepen existing relationships, seventeen Portuguese brands will be present at the event: Apertex; B. Sousa Dias; Burel; Oak; Corticeira Viking; Ditto; Felpinter; Giestal Home Textiles; Home Flavors; Lhasa; Little Nothing; Butter; Maria Paperdolls; Pereira da Cunha; Sampedro; Sugo Cork Rugs; Tuntum.

Cristina Motta, from “Messe Frankfurt”, says that this is one of the largest Portuguese committees in Japan and highlights the importance of the continuity factor: "With the Japanese market you have to be there and establish relationships of trust. Portugal was able to create those relationships because it was always present, even in the most critical moments, such as in 2011, after the tsunami, when many other delegations cancelled their participation."

Already well anchored in the Japanese market, Burel could not miss another edition of “Interior Lifestyle Tokyo”. Aware of the "perfectionist" profile of the country, Isabel Costa, the company leader, gives great importance to Japan: "It’s a very important market for its reputation in quality and demand, especially in textiles. It's a seal of quality that what we do is well done."

Known for reinventing a Portuguese hand-woven fabric, Burel will present in Tokyo a line of products that promise to cross the frontier of the textile industry: "The novelty is the presentation of our collection of hand-made 3D Points, which can be used in coatings, architectural and design solutions, both in domestic or business environments."

Also a veteran of “Interior Lifestyle”, B. Sousa Dias is another one of the textile companies that will be present in Tokyo. "The products of Portuguese origin are much appreciated by the Japanese consumer, who recognizes the know-how of our industry and likes European trends," explains Inge Van Staeyen, from the home textiles Portuguese brand.

Giestal Home Textile, which exports almost all of its production, emphasizes not only the commercial but also the cultural dimension of international fairs: "Intercultural contact is highly valued, since it allows us to discover new horizons, both personally and professionally."

On the other hand, Cristina Moreira, Sales Manager of Home Flavours, admits that Japan doesn’t have yet a great expression in the company's exports. However, the brand departures to “Lifestyle Tokyo” with the purpose of changing that: "With Japan being a reference in terms of quality and service, our ability to respond with high quality articles makes it a market  where we want to be present. "

A similar opinion has Casimiro Lemos, Export Manager of LASA / MAF, who emphasizes the perfectionism of the Japanese public: "They are important due to their high quality demand.  We have to show differentiated products".

For the first time in Japan, Marias Paperdolls, from the designer Cláudia Nair Oliveira, prefers to highlight the brand's affinity with the Japanese culture: "This is our brand’s market of choice due to the fascination and admiration we have for this country, which is also a huge source of inspiration."

Also for the first time at the Japanese fair, Sampedro's commercial director, José Pedro Gomes, believes that this will be an ideal opportunity to "acquire new customers, to present the company to the main Japanese brands and distributors, and to get to know the market more extensively." With this, Sampedro, which is already present in 35 countries, looks to introduce its products into a new market.

Tiago Pereira da Cunha, administrator of Pereira da Cunha, another one of the companies present at the event, believes that the Asian market has a special potential for the textile industry: "We think that right now is the time to bet on the Asian market. Japan is a country that has a lot of potential because at the moment it is the fiftieth largest importer of goods, and the fourth of bed linen imports." Specialized in home textiles, Pereira da Cunha leaves for “Interior Lifestyle” with the purpose to present "modern products, of medium-high range, where 100% cotton, organic yarn, chenille or linen predominate."

Also in the home textiles sector, Felpinter believes that the "historical and commercial relations between Portugal and Japan" will facilitate the process of finding a local partner to help implementing their products on a market they consider a priority, especially by the "requirements that they place on quality, design and commercial relations".

Apertex is looking to "raise the export rate", especially since it is a "fair and reliable market". David Ribeiro, the company’s spokesman, promises to display some novelties and places his bets on variety: "From the traditional bedspreads that made us known and brought us our first customers, to blankets, sleeping bags, sheets and many other products we have in catalogue".

Tiago Lopes, from Carvalho, sees in “Interior Lifestyle Tokyo” an opportunity to continue developing a strategic market for the future: "We want to continue our work so that in a few years this market will be an important space for Carvalho."

Sugo Cork Rugs took special care in preparing for this incursion into the Japanese market. Susana Godinho, commercial director of the brand, says that the company will present a "collection inspired by Japan and created especially for the Japanese market, with colour and geometric patterns, in which cork is intertwined harmoniously with cotton. Unique hand-woven rugs, with a very special and sustainable concept, result in exclusive and contemporary pieces and textures."

Originally from Porto, Tuntum, a new Portuguese furniture brand, is one of the newcomers in “Interior Lifestyle Tokyo” and expects to find a positive response to the products they showcase: "We think that our wood and burel handmade items relate with the demanding and knowledgeable consumer of the Japanese market."

Regarding jewellery and interior decoration, Little Nothing will present tableware and decoration products. Paula Castro, designer and creator of the brand, leaves for Tokyo with positive expectations: "I hope to be able to promote my brand in this market and to make some contacts. It seems to me that the work I do is close to the Japanese culture, so I hope it will be accepted by their market."

Also with new decoration proposals, Byline hopes to find new strategic partners in “Interior Lifestyle Tokyo”. "We hope to be able to address retail customers. Due to its size and sophistication, it’s a very important target market", says Mário Lobo, brand representative.

The company Corticeira Viking carries one of the main national symbols in the baggage and hopes to find in Japan new opportunities to explore. "We see enormous potential for the growth of our exports in the Asian market. Our bet is to present a little of the whole range (table, home, yoga, textile, gifts, industrial), in order to promote 100% Portuguese products and to show the public the most varied applications of cork", explains Renato Espírito Santo, the company’s CFO.

The Portuguese companies participation in “Interior Lifestyle Tokyo” is an initiative of Selectiva Moda and ATP - Textile and Clothing Association of Portugal, which aims to promote the internationalization of Portuguese fashion companies. The project “From Portugal” is co-financed by Portugal 2020, under Compete 2020 - Operational Program for Competitiveness and Internationalization, with an eligible support amount of € 12,118,285.17, of which € 6,695,352.55 comes through the European Regional Development Fund.

 

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