Coterie: USD 1.7 million in business expected for the next year
Eight Brazilian brands took part in the F/W edition of Coterie, a traditional women’s apparel, footwear and accessories show held in New York from February 26 to 28. Taking their latest products to the event and doing USD 522,000 in sales were womenswear companies Skazi, PatBo, Sophia Hegg, Serpui, Caleidoscopio, Claudia Arbex and Maria Dolores and fine costume jeweler T. Arrigoni. All are members of internationalization programs from Apex-Brasil (Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency): Texbrasil (Brazilian Textile and Fashion Industry Internationalization Program), a partnership with Abit, and Fashion Label Brasil, promoted by ABEST.
Expectations for the next twelve months are at USD 1.2 million in business. The brands made over 100 new contacts with buyers from countries including the USA, Mexico, Canada and Greece.
This is Skazi’s first time at the event. The company showed its F/W collection, with 150 contemporary and structured pieces. According to Letícia Morato, International Business Manager, it was a very enriching experience. “We were very happy, since we had an extraordinary response from buyers to our collection and this gave us great contacts,” she explains.
Coterie began in 1986 by joining various showrooms, as well as national and international brands. It also welcomes renowned international retailers in addition to featuring a space dedicated to new contemporary fashion designers.
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 120 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).