Colombia & Brasil a new perspective for the European fabrics
The final success of the South-American mission of Maredimoda in Colombia and Brazil on January 25-31, has turned out to be really astonishing. The companies involved in this very exploration initiative, featured by a real discovery taste, have pointed out their positive astonishment and comfortable feeling of being supported by the audience and critics’ response to a two-continent expedition which had been so strongly fostered by the fair managing committee. “We are going back home and feel happy – says Claudio Taiana, President of Maredimoda – for both the qualified contacts and the opportunities of market penetration in Colombia and Brazil that European companies have achieved. With regards to Colombia, the partial overlapping with Colombiatex, the most popular textile trade fair in South America, has worked in our favour as well as the local garment-makers’ stance who looked very much excited by the European offer. On the other hand, Brazil has left a lighter and sometimes confused mark despite the visit of some of the most qualified “green gold” business groups. In short, the companies which have participated in this pioneering initiative have turned out to be quite happy and galvanized by the dialogue with the South-American universe”.
COLOMBIA
In Medellin, an excellent feedback has come from local garment-makers as well as those coming from Mexico, Ecuador, the Dominican Republic, Peru till the United States and it has not only been about medium-size companies but also corporations which are already used to working with European and especially Spanish weavers. To be pointed out is also the fact that the beachwear industry is now rocketing, the customs duties against European textile products are declining and a free-trade agreement with USA is under approval. The Chinese rising problems as well as the related negative experiences are causing several “stars-and-stripes” brands to address their production to other countries and Colombia is running for the first garment-maker point of reference. It is also essential to say that several local companies are already significant exporters of beachwear and lingerie under their own brand.The attention devoted by the Colombian government to the fashion market is proven by the fact that Inexmoda, the institute for export and fashion in Colombia and organizer of Colombiatex and Colombiamoda, has set itself the target of implementing a Colombian “Fashion System” based on French and Italian patterns. At present, the opportunities for the European companies are already existing and tangible and they will become more and more interesting in the short- and medium-term. After this first experience, together with the member companies, MarediModa will develop new ways for being present there in the future.
BRAZIL
The mission has tested the Brazilian market with a focused event. The current difficulties are of both cultural (the local garment-makers are not used to either working with European suppliers or participating in such events) and structural nature (the strong local competitors do nearly have a monopoly and the customs duties are very high). However, the contacts got in Sao Paulo did allow us to better become aware of the huge possibilities of this country which is as big and as much populated as an entire continent; it is about a country that is featured by a vertical growth and is the homeland of the bathing suit with about 1.5 billion dollars yearly expenditure out of the 12 billion dollars worldwide. A careful planning with a proper assistance on site would make the European companies very much optimistic while producing innovative products which are not available in the local market.Considering that this was the very first time for nearly all the companies, the mission has allowed them to approach a closed market which, so far, has been overprotected by rigorous provisions but, at the same time, is also featured by very much interesting opportunities. The ever increasing number of stores and shopping malls, the soaring selling prices of fashion products, the average very low age of population, the rising income and the boosting economy thanks to Olympic Games and next World Cup are quite significant issues to be pointed out.
THE COMPANIES PARTICIPATING IN THE MISSION:
Boselli & C. S.p.a, Cevibi S.p.A., Liantex S.r.l., Lior S.A., Maglificio Ripa S.p.A., Malla Baño S.L., Miroglio Textile S.r.l. - DIV. DREAM, Mokitex S.p.A., Muehlmeier Bodyshaping GmbH, Piave Maitex S.p.A., Quadrifoglio 95 S.r.l., Ratti S.P.A. Div. Setamarina, Ritex 2002 S.L., Taiana Virgilio Tessitura S.p.A., Textra S.r.l.
