International guests attend the F/W edition of Minas Trend Preview

Another edition of the Minas Trend Preview came to an end last Thursday (10/10). The event provides a first look at the top trends and what is new for F/W 2014, showing collections from major Minas Gerais-based labels such as Victor Dzenk, GIG, Vivaz and Patricia Motta in fashion shows attended by hundreds of visitors between the press and invited guests.

Texbrasil (Brazilian Fashion Industry Internationalization Program, developed by Abit in partnership with Apex-Brasil) brought a group of seven journalists and six international buyers to Belo Horizonte. Buyers who took part in the traditional business showroom include representatives from companies in Qatar, Belgium, Spain, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon.

Among opinion makers at the event were the editor of Vogue Portugal, Paula Mateus; English blogger Kristin Knox, who writes The Clothes Whisperer; as well as Matteo Bardi, from Italy’s Arpel magazine; Nicole Aguirre, from US-based Worn; Jeanette Nkwate, from the WGSN England trend bureau; and Marie Cristine and Jean Pierre from Paris Modes, an online TV show following the world’s biggest fashion weeks.

These press members watched all of the fashion shows from close up and also visited the Vivaz factory, which presented its collection. Matteo Bardi, on his first visit to Brazil, said that fashion in Minas Gerais has its own identity, especially when compared to the big Brazilian cities of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro: “this also shows the diversity in such a large country when it comes to fashion.”

Kristin Knox highlighted evening wear production, a significant segment in the state: “Minas Gerais is strong when it comes to production of eveningwear, especially with embroidery done by hand, which demonstrates the wealth of manpower in Brazilian fashion. The visits to some of the factories to see the production processes for knit dresses, for example, were also enriching,” she added.

In partnership with the Association of Minas Gerais Fashion Businesses (Amem), Texbrasil also held a meet&greet with the international guests, Brazilian press and fashion designers in its lounge, which was attended by more than 50 guests.