International buyers do USD 500,000 in business at Minas Trend

From April 7 to 10, Expominas, in Belo Horizonte, hosted the 16th edition of Minas Trend, an event that joins fashion shows with a showroom, executed by Fiemg (Federation of Industries of the State of Minas Gerais). With 251 exhibitors, the S/S 2016 edition welcomed over 15,000 visitors. Among those in attendance were seven journalists and eight international buyers invited by Texbrasil, the Brazilian Fashion Industry Internationalization Program, developed by Abit in partnership with Apex-Brasil (Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency). Attendees made nearly BRL 1.5 million in purchases of Brazilian products, with future business expected as a result of contacts made.

Representatives from major retailers in the United Arab Emirates, France, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Australia, Portugal and Canada were at the event and were impressed with Brazilian fashion in terms of technology, materials and quality. British buyer Pamela Shiffer, owner of the eponymous boutique, found the show to be very productive. “I had big expectations and I’m very happy, because I was able to find all of the products I was looking for. I intend to work more closely with the Brazilian market, since I can use it to offer unique and original products to my customers,” she says.

In total, 24 Texbrasil brands were at the business show. Of these 11, Patricia Motta, Vivaz, Fabiana Milazzo and Mabel Magalhaes also held fashion shows for their collections. In addition to checking out the fashion shows, the international guests had the chance to take an up-close look at the work of labels headquartered in Minas Gerais: they visited the GIG and Vivaz factories where they respectively met designer Gina Guerra and the design trio of Camila, Elisabeth and Isabela Faria. The international press members and buyers also visited the Aua store, along with its creative director, Laura Guerra, and the Patricia Motta store, with a special welcome by the designer. In addition to its commitment to show the best of Brazilian fashion, the Texbrasil team also showed the guests local culture, with a visit to Instituto Inhotim, the world’s largest open-air museum.

International press members included Katharine Smith (WGSN – England), Marco Corral (El Universal – Mexico), Rocio Pastor Eugenio (Womanworld – Spain), Joao Paulo Nunes (The Huffington Post – England), Helen Jennings (Arise Magazine – England), Akiko Ichikawa (Senken Newspaper – Japan), and Ivan Castano (WWD – Mexico/ USA). Buyers included: Shaden Bushnaq (Professionelle store, Dubai); Naouel Brahmi (Wedding Queen store, France); Valeryana Allemand (Saxa Store, Ireland); Pamela Shiffer (Pamela Shiffer store, the UK); Rula Pantelis (Mariko Boutiques and Insurge stores, Australia); Mafalda Paul (Andre Costa store, Portugal); Graziella Nogueira and Valeria Mello (Zielara Showroom, Canada).

The next edition of Minas Trend, for F/W 2016 launches, will take place in October, at Expominas, in Belo Horizonte.