PORTUGUESE COMPANIES STAKE A CLAIM IN THE FRENCH MARKET

The Halls de la Filature, in Saint-André-lez-Lille, will once again host Tissu Premier. 5 Portuguese companies will be in attendance this year, taking their Made in Portugal products beyond their borders. In November, more than 70 exhibitors participated and it received approximately 1000 visitors.

6Dias will make its international fair debut at Tissu Premier and will be located in HALL2/2B6. According to Pedro Maia, from the company’s commercial department, the decision was not randomly made: “we chose Tissu Premier because of its reputable character and, there, the name 6 Dias would be represented at a trade fair with reference stature” and also because “the French market is one of tradition and influence in the fashion world”. The company believes it will be able to do excellent business and present its project in a consistent manner, showcasing its Summer 2016 collection, with the theme “genesis” – the start of something new. Pedro Maia describes the collection, saying that “at first glance, it brings with it abundant colour and depth, it is ethnic and chic, definitely strong, with references to current tendencies, integrating flowers, fruit and pop culture, all using PES, viscose and cotton”.

João António Lima - Malhas Lda is turning its focus to the French market, and will be present at the fair because “Lille is a very important textile centre, where many of the region’s prestigious brands with whom we have contact are located”. Steven Demaegdt, from the commercial department says that the “expectation is to gain the maximum amount of clients” and that the fair is very “busy”. The company, present in HALL3/3A14, will showcase “a variety of jacquards”, “knits with technical threads” and, of course, “100% linen knits”, for which they are known as “one of the leading companies in Europe”.

Quick Code will also travel to France with its “micro-floral prints, colour gradients in ditsy prints”, materials such as “satins and structured pieces” and “shimmering materials in Lurex”. Marlene Quelhas explains that “due to the proximity of the countries, the fair is especially important as they seek to acquire clients who want a product that is quickly delivered, with quality service”. Some of the company’s more note-worthy characteristics are their flexibility, exclusive designs and rapid response. They will be located in HALL2/2A1.

The participation of the five portuguese companies in one more Tissu Premier edition is an initiative promoted by the Selectiva Moda Association, co-financed by the EU Structural and Investment Funds as part of the Operational Programme for Competitiveness and Internationalisation (POCI), Portugal 2020 and COMPETE 2020. The FROM PORTUGAL project is made up of approximately 81 international activities which take place in the second half of 2015 and in 2016, covering the entire textile and fashion industry and spread over four continents, with a total investment of over 13 million euros.