Event marks the launch of the Brazil Fashion System’s new phase

The Brazil Fashion System (SMB), created by the Federal Government and launched in the latest edition of Fashion Rio, prepares new measures to strengthen the economic sectors linked to the fashion market discussed in meetings. According to the executive secretary of the Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade (MDIC), Alessandro Teixeira, representatives of the concerned sectors will be called soon to “work out” these measures.  “Next year, we want to step on the accelerator to give more competitiveness for these segments, which represent 4% to 5% of GDP, almost 3 million direct jobs in Brazil, involving more than 60.000 companies”, he said.

For him, it is essential to invest in professional training and upgrading of industries, reinforcing themes of inclusion, innovation and creativity in the policies and processes under discussion. Sustainability is another key point to be worked out because it is a great element of competitiveness of the domestic industry in these segments. Regina Silverio, Director of Planning and Management of Apex-Brasil, also believes that sustainability is a differentiator for companies and mentioned the leather and textile sectors, which by means of tanneries and dyeing have already adopted “clean technology”, investing in waste treatment.   “We have advanced a lot. We understand that, in some markets, we are very competitive and tariff barriers are no longer sufficient by themselves. There are nontariff barriers that we need to overcome and this can be done from innovation and sustainability initiatives”.

Frederico Bernardo, chief operating officer of the Brazilian Fashion Industry Export Program (Texbrasil), also bets on the sustainability and growth of SMB. “It is essential to discuss relevant issues to strengthen the textile market and its segments, both nationally and internationally”, he says.  “We believe that sustainable measures taken by Brazilian companies prove themselves as a differentiator in our market”, he concludes.