FROM PORTUGAL ADORNS THE COLD SEASON NEXT YEAR
This year, the world-renowned Parisian fabric fair receives a large Portuguese delegation. Portugal will be represented at the highest level, with the presence of 52 companies, 22 of which are supported by the Associaçao Selectiva Moda, under the auspices of the From Portugal internationalisation project. Portuguese trends will adorn the next autumn/winter 2016/17 collections, from tweeds, jaquards and classic crocheted lace, to fabrics for coats, circular knits, mercerised fabrics, ribbons and elastic. The Portuguese range at this event combines quality raw materials with unique and elegant design, giving a special touch to the next cold season.
This year, the world-renowned Parisian fabric fair receives a large Portuguese delegation. Portugal will be represented at the highest level, with the presence of 52 companies, 22 of which are supported by the Associaçao Selectiva Moda, under the auspices of the From Portugal internationalisation project. Portuguese trends will adorn the next autumn/winter 2016/17 collections, from tweeds, jaquards and classic crocheted lace, to fabrics for coats, circular knits, mercerised fabrics, ribbons and elastic. The Portuguese range at this event combines quality raw materials with unique and elegant design, giving a special touch to the next cold season.
From 15 to 17 September, the main players in the textile industry will be meeting in Paris for another Première Vision Paris, which is considered the main event of the sector. The event will be attended by 22 Portuguese companies at the Paris-Nord Villepinte Exhibition Centre, under the auspices of the From Portugal internationalisation project, an initiative implemented by the Associação Selectiva Moda.
The Portuguese participants will be divided across three events: Première Vision Fabrics (fabrics), Première Vision Accessories (accessories), Première Vision Manufacturing (production), and an area of expertise Knitwear Solutions (rectilinear knitted garments). A wide range of products made in Portugal that promises to surprise visitors to the French event.
A.Sampaio e Filhos Têxteis – Albano Morgado – Cotex – Fitecom – Joaps – Lemar – Living Colours& A Fiandeira – LMA – Luíz Azevedo & Filhos – Lurdes Sampaio – NGS Malhas – Sidónios Knitwear – Tintex Textiles – Troficolor – are the 14 companies attending Première Vision Fabrics.
Wool and cotton blends, silk and lyocell, spacer knits and fancy jacquards are the highlights of the A.Sampaio e Filhos Têxteis, SA range. “This is the main fashion fair in the European market, and as such, we always attend. We intend to meet with our regular customers and strengthen our presence in this market”, stresses João Mendes, manager of the company.
Making its debut, Cotex pays particular attention to new trends in ribbons, as well as articles with rapports. “This is our first time at the fair and we want the event to be a channel for expanding the export market for our lacework and a means to doing business with the widest range of countries in Europe and other international markets, as it is the most prominent fair with global reach”, says Milena Raposinho, coordinator of exports for the company.
In turn, Fitecom places special emphasis on fabric for jackets in 100% wool with bobbles and fabrics for trousers and jackets in polyester, wool and lycra, with small structures. “Our expectations are high, we hope to have a good fair, as in previous years” says Luis Mesquita, commercial director.
New jaquards, fine sets and rich mixtures are the products NGS Malhas is investing in. “This is a market in constant growth, hence the importance of attending this event. Our main goal is to consolidate our position in this market”, states Sara Pinto.
“We chose this fair, because it provides an opportunity to publicise Tintex products on a more global scale, given that our aim is to position ourselves on all 5 continents”, says Mário Jorge, the company's CEO, who indicates as highlights in this debut “sustainable products, coatings, foils, mercerised fabrics and lustres”.
A specialist in circular knitting, Joaps takes to Première Vision the key trends for autumn/winter 2016/17, which is characterised by the diversity of materials in terms of structures and the most esteemed raw materials. “For Joaps, this type of fair is of great interest due to the diversity of business opportunities it represents. Our expectations include increasing our number of visitors and increasing our turnover”, says Carla Araújo, from the company’s marketing department.
Idepa will be the Portuguese representative at Première Vision Accessories. Solutions that combine woven labels, ribbons and elastic are some of the featured products.
At Knitwear Solutions, an area dedicated to rectilinear knitted garments, which is again a highlight of this year’s fair and which, although recent, has acquired great importance and consequently has attracted more exhibitors. Portuguese know-how is demonstrated in the ranges of A. Ferreira & Filhos SA and Orfama. “We will present innovative raw materials, blends with cotton/silk, bamboo/cashmere, as well as models worked with different motifs in jacquard and fine threads”, reveals António Cunha, manager of the company.
At Première Vision Manufacturing, domestic manufacturers are prominent – A.J.Gonçalves, Collove, Miguesana Têxtil, Raith Têxteis and Squarcione, make up the Portuguese delegation. Specialist in seamless tights and underwear, Collove is making a return to Paris. Its clothing is designed for the elegant, multifaceted woman who enjoys comfortable underwear, without foregoing a sensual image. For autumn/winter 2016/17, the brand maintains the sophistication and the unique design for which it is famous.
With two annual shows, Première Vision Paris combines 6 fairs into a single event, over 3 days, and will this time host around 1,950 exhibitors from more than 50 countries.
According to information provided by ATP - Textile and Clothing Association of Portugal, Portuguese fabric exports, including special fabrics such as lace, ribbons, labels and trimmings, reached 249 million euros in the first half of 2015, recording 2.3% growth, and representing 10% of exports in the sector. Exports of labels amounted to 8 million euros, a rise of 15%. Knitted fabrics consolidated their leadership, with 4.4% growth, now representing 28% of fabric exports (approximately 71 million euros). However, it was exports of synthetic or artificial filament yarn fabrics that witnessed the highest absolute growth, with an increase of around 7 million euros, equivalent to a growth rate of 30%. Synthetic or artificial fibre fabrics have become the second most exported fabrics, amounting to 56 million euros in exports and a growth rate of 6% over the same period of 2014. At the current time, around 75% of fabric exports are destined for European Union markets, with Spain, Germany, France and Italy leading the ranking of top destinations. In 1st half of 2015, the US was the market that registered the highest growth (53% growth, equivalent to an increase of 3.6 million euros), followed by Germany (with an increase of 3.3 million euros and a growth rate of 13%), Poland (an increase of 1.1 million euros and a growth rate of 34%), the Czech Republic (932 thousand euros, and a 23% growth rate) and Canada (916 thousand euros, an increase of 31%).
The participation of 22 Portuguese companies in another Première Vision Paris show is an initiative promoted by the Associação Selectiva Moda co-financed by the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) under the POCI (Operational Competitiveness and Internationalisation Programme), Portugal 2020 and COMPETE 2020. The FROM PORTUGAL project consists of around 81 international initiatives that take place in the 2nd half of 2015 and 2016 covering the entire textile and fashion industry, spread across four continents, with a total investment of over 13 million euros.
