International buyers do USD 2.9 million in business during Veste Rio

The Maua Pier in Rio de Janeiro hosted Veste Rio, from April 10 to 15, gathering a wide selection of beachwear and casualwear. The event welcomed a group of 12 international guests: 9 buyers and 3 journalists. They attended at the invitation of Texbrasil and Fashion Label Brasil, Brazilian fashion internationalization programs. These projects are respectively the result of partnerships between Abit (Brazilian Textile and Apparel Industry Association) and Abest (Brazilian Association of Fashion Designers) with Apex-Brasil (Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency).

Among the buyers were representatives from major international stores: Andre Costa and MelieStore.com (Portugal), Alejandra Montaner (Spain), Fashion Jardim Showroom (Dubai), Villa Baboushka (Egypt), Net-A-Porter (London), Revolve (USA) and Melko (Australia). According to the group, a volume of approximately USD 2.9 million in business was done during the event, with another USD 4.3 million expected over the next 12 months.

“It was an honor to be invited to Brazil for this edition of Veste Rio. I saw new brands and I loved the sun protective items I saw during the fashion shows. The world is now watching this segment and I’m happy to know that Brazil is there with lots of dazzling style,” says Maria Williams of Net-a-Porter.

Dina Ghorayeb, of the Fashion Jardim Showroom, highlighted the variety of options present at the event: “I want to bring new names to Dubai. What most caught my attention in Brazilian fashion is items’ light and fun manner.”

Press coverage

The event also welcomed a group of opinion-makers. Akiko Achikawa, from Japan’s The Senken Newspaper and Vogue Japan; Marco Corral, from Vogue Mexico and Glamour Latin America; and Rosario Marabito, from the Milano Finanza and Vogue Italian Talents media channels, visited the show, attending the fashion shows and participating in a special program that included a guided tour of Senai Cetiqt (Senai’s Chemical and Textile Industry Technology Center), to take an up-close look at the advancements in Brazil’s Industry 4.0.

Selection of brands

Veste Rio brought together major brands and huge celebrities in Brazilian fashion. The event was promoted by Revista Ela, a publication of O Globo newspaper, in partnership with Vogue Brazil magazine, and presented by Senac-RJ, mixing a trade show with an outlet, talks and fashion shows. The 11 Texbrasil/Abit Program members and 18 Abest/Fashion Label Brasil members that took part in the event are Maria Pavan, Lucidez, PatBo, Bikini Society, Blue Man, Clube Bossa, Cholet, HY Brasil, Lua Morena, UV.Line, Victor Dzenk, Salt Sun & Bikinis, Nannacay, Lenny Niemeyer, Vix, Uma, Mos, Wasabi, Wymann, Agua de Coco, Triya, Bleque, Dalai, Fabres, Haight, Hype, Prayah, Salinas and Sinesia Karol.

About ABEST

Created in 2003, the goal of the Brazilian Association of Fashion Designers is to strengthen and promote Brazilian fashion and design. Its chief aim is to assist in developing Brazilian brands with an international scope and to ensure the authenticity and creativity of each of them, in addition to publicizing the Brazilian lifestyle as a way to contribute to the growth of all segments connected with fashion. A not-for-profit organization, ABEST currently has 122 member brands throughout Brazil, exporting products to 57 countries. Moreover, the organization is constantly executing strategic initiatives to further penetration in new international markets and strengthen relations with those where there is already a presence.

About Abit

Founded in 1957, the Brazilian Textile and Apparel Industry Association (Abit) is one of the most important organizations within the country’s economic sectors. It represents the productive force of 33,000 companies nationwide of every size, employing over 1.6 million workers and together generating annual revenues of US$ 36.2 billion.

About Apex-Brasil

The Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil) works to promote Brazilian products and services abroad and to attract foreign investments to strategic sectors of the Brazilian economy. To achieve its goals, Apex-Brasil executes a range of trade promotion activities aimed at promoting exports and adding value to Brazilian products and services abroad. These initiatives include prospective and trade missions, business talks, support for Brazilian companies to take part in major international fairs and visits by foreign buyers and tastemakers aimed at familiarizing them with Brazil’s production structure, among other business platforms which are also geared towards strengthening the Brazil brand.

About Fashion Label Brasil

Fashion Label Brasil is the Brazilian Association of Fashion Designers’ Brazilian Value-Added Fashion Internationalization Program, created over 10 years ago in partnership with Apex-Brasil (Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency). Its purpose is to position Brazilian fashion abroad, enhancing Brazil’s image as innovative and contemporary. The program includes strategic and trade promotion initiatives for the various segments of Brazilian fashion, helping them to expand their operations in the international market.

About Texbrasil

The Brazilian Textile and Fashion Industry Internationalization Program (Texbrasil) works with textile and apparel industry companies to develop strategies for success in the global market. Over more than 15 years, it has helped around 1500 brands to enter the export market, bringing in USD 3.6 billion in business. The Program is conducted by Abit in partnership with the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil).