Brazil abroad: Chinese artist Momo Wu wears Pat Bo

With the world’s second largest economy (trailing only the United States) and GDP growth of 7.4% in 2014, China is a market with huge potential. This new economic order is seen in singer and songwriter Momo Wu. Wu, known as the Chinese Lady Gaga, was a participant on The Voice China. While she did not win the competition, she did gain thousands of fans who loved her musical choices and sense of style. Success led her to work with global brands such as Pepsi, Samsung and Vidal Sasson and to features in editorials in magazines including Marie Claire, Elle and Cosmopolitan.

Yet her fashion résumé does not stop there: Momo took part in the Style Lab, an initiative by the Luisa Via Roma boutique, which invited international style icons to a photo shoot styled by Momo herself. She was able to choose among the thousands of clothing items available at the store. The shoot took place during the tenth edition of Firenze4ever, a preview for trendsetters and the press that the boutique holds with each new collection and that, this year, celebrated Asian culture under the title of Oriental Obsession.

The editorial included items by Moschino, Balmain and Yves Saint Laurent, with Momo choosing a dress by Pat Bo, the young label by Brazilian Patricia Bonaldi. Last year the designer began selling at Luisa Via Roma, as a result of a partnership between the store and Texbrasil (Brazilian Fashion Industry Internationalization Program, promoted by Abit in partnership with Apex-Brasil), entered into during the ninth edition of Firenze4Ever, whose theme was “Brazil, art and music” and which included participation by other Brazilian brands, such as Fabiana Milazzo, Lucas Magalhaes, Trendt and Helen Rodel.

Other Texbrasil initiatives were also focused on the Chinese market. The Brasil Beyond concept, showing that Brazilian fashion goes beyond expectations and is inspired by art, music and cuisine, has already come to China in the form of fashion shows and special events and it has resulted in an editorial in Elle China about Brazilian fashion designers. Exports to the country were up 179% from 2013 to 2014, with Texbrasil brands accounting for 15% of this growth.