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PORTUGUESE FABRICS RUN THE WORLD

They have started the year in New York and they are going to end the first semester in Beijing. In the middle they have stopped in São Paulo, Lille, Madrid, Medellin, London, Munich, Milan, Paris, Moscow and Tokyo. In 90 days, fabrics Form Portugal have travelled by 3 continents, 12 countries and 121.444 kilometers, the equivalent to more than three trips around the globe. Specialists in weaving opportunities from difficulties, Arco Têxteis, Lemar, Riopele, Somelos e Troficolor show now at Intertextile Beijing Apparel Fabrics that, besides being unstoppable globetrotters, are also real world trendsetters!

To do that, they carry in their luggage competences in the art of weaving that crossed already two centuries – the “oldest” Portuguese company of this group is Arco Têxteis, founded in 1923, while the “youngest”, created in 1958, is Somelos – and the credentials from the most renowned international brands that compose their clients’ portfolio, such as Armani, Burberry, Dior and Hugo Boss. And, most of all, they bring the fabrics that will dictate the fashion for spring/summer 2013, that annunciates itself as a colorful season, both in the proposals for shirting of Somelos and Arco Têxteis and in the collections of fabrics for beachwear from Lemar, for jeanswear from Troficolor and for prêt-à-porter from Riopele. «There is a strong dominance of the colour, which is more and more in our collections. There is also, in general, a bold detail that gives a special touch to each fabric», says Tiago Guimarães, administrator of the Somelos Group. «Delicate fabrics with colour are on the spotlight for next year summer», confirms Alfredo Rezende, Arco Têxteis’ administrator.  

With the exuberant growing of its economy, China concentrates the ambitions of these Portuguese fabric companies, some of which have anticipated early that the future would turn to the East. «China is a key market for Somelos, where we are investing strongly for several years», unveils Tiago Guimarães. «This market represents simultaneously a great challenge and a great opportunity», underlines the administrator of Somelos Group, which is a regular presence at Intertextile Beijing Apparel Fabrics. «Beijing is importing more and more and, therefore, it is fundamental to think of this market as a destiny with an increasing importance in Portuguese exports», adds Arco Têxteis’ administrator. China is also in the map of the new markets that Troficolor, Riopele e Lemar want to explore in 2012 and Intertextile Beijing Apparel Fabrics presents itself as an entry door by excellence for its fabrics “made in Portugal”. «This trade fair will allow us to understand how the Chinese market works. It is an opportunity that came out now and that we consider a must for Troficolor», explains the CEO of the company specialized in denim founded in 1956, Carlos Serra. Lemar’s CEO, Manuela Araújo, whose weaving company was created in 1939, defends that «today we have to be in every continent and in most countries. We have to present our fabrics all over the world, but with a strategy based on quality and service, so that Portugal might have a competitive price for the value it offers». On its side, José Alexandre Oliveira, president of Riopele Group, founded in 1927 by his grandfather, believes that «there is an appetite for our fabrics of clients in countries such as China and, therefore, we must accompany them in their market».

These five Portuguese companies participate in Intertextile Beijing Apparel Fabrics with the support of Associação Selectiva Moda, under the project From Portugal with the support of EU funds (QREN). This fabric trade fair is one of the 68 international actions in 25 different markets, which includes, among others, Première Vision in New York, São Paulo and Paris, Milano Unica, Munich Fabric Start, Colombiatex, Jitac in Tokyo and Textillegprom in Moscow, that the Portuguese association will hold in 2012, in a total investment of 8.85 million Euros.


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