Dragão Fashion is a hit with international media at its 20th edition

From May 15 to 18, a group of three international journalists attended the twentieth edition of Dragão Fashion, in Fortaleza, the capital of Ceará. The group attended the event at the invitation of Texbrasil (Brazilian Textile and Fashion Industry Internationalization Program) – carried out through a partnership between Apex-Brasil (Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency) and Abit (Brazilian Textile and Apparel Industry Association). The original Brazilian fashion shown during the event’s extensive line-up – with a total of 35 fashion shows this year – was on the schedule for the international press group, which also visited Program member brand companies, factories and stores, including Vicunha, Cholet, Delfa and Bikiny Society.

The group included fashion columnist Ariadne Grant, with El Heraldo of Mexico; Pilar Luna, with Colombia’s Código Malta website; and Paula Labonia, with the fashion section of Infobae, an Argentine portal.

The event is a very interesting showcase for the journalists. “The aim of bringing new talent to the runway is really very good. But I think that what makes Dragão unique is that the fashion shows have easy public access. The work the organization has done in producing a democratic festival such as this for the last 20 years is really quite admirable,” says Pilar Luna.

This year, the event celebrated its 20-year anniversary with fashion shows by the names that have been part of its history, such as Ronaldo Silvestre’s discrete eveningwear and the always fun Lindenbergue Fernandes, bringing a play on the idea of chic and tacky to the runway in a return to 1980s Brazil. While Silvânia de Deus, a designer who showed at the first edition of Dragão ended the last day with 30 tailored looks in natural fabrics and with Maranguape embroidery.

Also in the line-up were fashion shows by students from universities across Brazil, who were competing in the now traditional Concurso de Novos (New Designers Contest). Brands making their debut were also impressive, such as Rio de Janeiro-based label Marju, showing a collection on the 17^th, in a gorgeous seaside show at Iracema beach, and designer Vitor Cunha, who kicked off the event with a collection filled with macramé knots along with sunset-colored linen looks.

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 nearly 20 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).