Veste Rio: Brazilian fashion captivates international buyers

The 3rd edition of Veste Rio, an event featuring the biggest trends for the S/S 2017/2018 season from major names in Brazilian fashion, came to an end last Sunday (April 30) in Rio de Janeiro. The business show welcomed a group of eight international buyers at the invitation of Texbrasil –  the Brazilian Textile and Fashion Industry Internationalization Program, the result of a partnership between Abit and Apex-Brasil (Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency).

Together, buyers Maria Williams, of Net-a-Porter (United Kingdom); Giuliana Bortolato, of Equipe Boutique (Italy); Christine Gonzalez and Cori French, of Revolve (USA); Kelly Haselschwerdt, of Bergdorf Goodman (USA); Rebecca Badoo, of Tsum (Russia); and Jinan Charafeddine and Luiza Amaral, of Monalisa (Paraguay) left Brazil with business expected over the next 12 months in excess of USD 1 million, in addition to a great image of Brazilian fashion.

For Maria Williams, of the famous online shopping site Net-a-Porter, the trip was important to provide an overview of the event and an idea of the participating brands. “I really enjoyed the shows, especially the emerging talent segment shows, held in the morning,” she says. While buyer Rebecca Badoo, of Tsum, one of the most renowned department stores in Moscow, Russia, stated that: “the event’s organization was excellent and the people involved were very knowledgeable. It was a very good experience.”

Before visiting the event, buyer Kelly Haselschwerdt, of famed North American store chain Bergdorf Goodman, came to the city of Sao Paulo for a schedule of visits and business talks at stores and in showrooms of brands she was interested in – among them was resort and beachwear brand Adriana Degreas. “Bergdorf already buys from the label, so we are used to seeing items at shows and in showrooms, but it is very important to meet the team and visit the store here in Brazil,” says Kelly, who was in the country for the first time.

Veste Rio includes participation from the following Texbrasil companies: Blue Man, CCM, Clube Bossa, Despi + Águia, Liziane Richter, Maria Filó, Maria Pavan, T. Arrigoni and Victor Dzenk, in addition to the Fashion Label Brasil (Abest’s Brazilian Added-Value Fashion Internationalization Program) brands Agua de Coco by Liana Thomaz, Caleidoscopio, Empress Brasil, Juliana Gevaerd, Lenny Niemeyer, Marta Reis, MOS, Nannacay, Osklen, Ph Praia, Prayah, Salinas, Salt Sun & Bikinis, Tati Baronian, Uma, Vix and Wasabi.

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