THE LONDON TEXTILE FAIR HOSTS MORE THAN A DOZEN PORTUGUESE COMPANIES

Considered a reference for the British market and becoming the biggest event in the textile industry in England, The London Textile Fair returns with many new features for its edition in the first half of 2024. According to estimates, more than 500 exhibitors will be at the international event, including the strong FROM PORTUGAL delegation that promises to surprise again.

Bloomati by Carvema, which already has a handful of entries in the London event, is one of the cases. “We present sustainable news, ranging from organic cotton and recycled polyester to knitwear made from reusing plants and fruits”, reveals Márcia Maciel from the company’s marketing department. With relevant expectations regarding the volume and quality of customers in London, the company considers that “this fair is known internationally and, for this reason, participation in the fair helps the company to publicize its products, and consequently, positioning itself in the market”, concludes.

Who also makes a positive assessment of previous editions (with participation since 2019) is Adalberto. With “high expectations, taking into account that the customers we have received have interesting potential”, explains João Ribeiro, manufacturing sales Manager. Among these previous contacts, English customers in the upper-middle segment stand out to whom Adalberto will present new features of “natural pigments and the Indigo (Denim not Denim) printing process”.

Modelmalhas considers this a very particular event: “smaller and more assertive (…) which receives mostly British designers and buyers”, as defined by Joana Oliveira, Head of Business Strategy at the company, participating in the London event for the first time. “We are experiencing impactful moments of change, and our collection reflects this”. The Head of Business Strategy highlights that the pieces in this colorful collection are developed “with sustainable and organic materials such as cotton or vegetable-based fibers”.

More experienced in these participations at The London Textile Fair is Troficolor, which has more than 16 presences at the event which supports, in the words of Ana Maria Magalhães, export sales manager, “a relevant market with a strong connection to Portugal and where several and diverse internationally recognized brands”. With the principles of Responsibility and Transparency as the motto of this collection, Troficolor presents “a diversity of fabric proposals produced with sustainable fibers, such as BCI cotton, organic cotton with GOTS/OCS certification, recycled cotton and polyester with GRS certification/RCS, Tencel^TM, regenerated cellulose, Linen, and Hemp, as well as natural dyeing processes such as vegetable indigo and mineral dyeing”, reports Ana Maria Magalhães, for whom the priority at this event is the English market.

With a strategy of strengthening commercial relationships through direct contact, GPSA (TMG) also returns for the sixth time to the London Textile Fair, where the company meets part of its British customers, a very relevant market for TMG. “On the other hand, we have also seen an increase in interest in establishing supply networks in Europe from customers who favor our type of added-value product”, considers Joaquim Duarte, sales manager. As for the novelty, the use of regenerative cotton and recycled fibers, but also “the increase in products that enhance longevity and life cycle”.

With an image already somewhat consolidated in the United Kingdom, Anbievolution returns with enthusiasm for its third participation in the event. “Since ANBIEVOLUTION already has some images and clients in the United Kingdom, this fair is complete with the physical part, which helps a lot to get us closer to the client. In this way, we create much more connection with the client”, explains André Andrade. With a focus on natural and sustainable products, the company intends to develop new businesses mainly with the English market because “we consider it to be a remarkable market (…) the price/quality ratio at this fair is very good”, summarizes.

6 Dias returns for the seventh year to The London Textile Fair where, in general, it achieved results “simply and economically”, considers Patrícia Dias, administrator, who wants to increase the volume of customers in this edition. As for the collection, the highlight goes to the options “Ecodenim (super sustainable denim imitation dyeing), CO/tencel, organic and ecoveros ova qualities”, lists.

The participation of Portuguese SME companies in The London Textile Fair is an initiative of Selectiva Moda and ATP – Associação Têxtil e Vestuário de Portugal, which aims to promote the internationalization of Portuguese companies in the Fashion sector. The “From Portugal” project is co-financed by the European Union, within the scope of Portugal 2030, through the Compete 2030 – Innovation and Digital Transition thematic program.