PORTUGUESE FABRICS REFRESH SPRING

In cotton, viscose and even wool, the Portuguese companies in Milano Unica weaved innovative and refreshing solutions for Spring/Summer 2013. The new collections of these manufacturers of excellence, coveted by brands such as Emporio Armani and Benetton, were also invaded by the multicoloured of the season.From woollen to shirting and beachwear fabrics, the Portuguese offer in this edition of Milano Unica covers all product range, always with the quality demanded by the most renowned names of international fashion.  

In absolute première at Milano Unica is Tintex(Pad.4, stand G13), whose collection is underlined by «ecologic fibres, where we highlight Tencel, our bestseller, which makes us proud of being leader in the European market and even in the world», says CEO Mário Jorge Silva. 
After a short break, Riopele (Pad.4, stand H11) makes the most celebrated comeback to Milano Unica. The Portuguese company, with clients such as Emporio Armani and Tara Jarmon, has developed a special collection inspired on four universes: “Nautical Navy”, “Natural”, “Ice Cream” and “Tribal Artisan”. «This collection features fabrics resulting of the sophisticated combination of fibres, yarns and innovative finishing processes. Ultra-light fabrics, with an organza or silk touch, clean cottons, artisanal linen look and noble double fabrics», explains Rita Fortes, marketing and sales manager.
Well implemented in the Italian market, where it has clients such as Benetton and Armani, Lemar (Pad.2, stand B16) surprises once again with its beachwear proposals, especially on fabrics with stripes yarn dyed. The collection announces «a season of subtle changes with surprising developments», reveals CEO Manuela Araújo, which highlights the contrasts between opaque/transparent fabrics and mini/maxi stripes, as well as prints, seersuckers, fine double face and luminous and intense colours, sublimated by dark tones.

Moreover, shirting fabrics “made in Portugal”, are on the spotlight thanks to two heavyweights in the international market: Somelos Tecidos (Pad.3, stand A7) and Arco Têxteis (pad.3, stand C22). «The season is provocative, but in a discrete, elegant and charming way, showing itself through a new symbiosis between material and colour, between fabric and look, always in an optimistic attitude full with finesse, intelligence and fantasy», explains Ana Paula Dias, responsible for product development at Arco Têxteis. This collection highlights, among others, the wash-out look and the silky and even shining finishing, as well as several motifs yarn dyed, such as false plain, micro-motifs, surprising double motifs and textured structures made by the combination of different yarn counts. And for those who look for superior quality wools with an innovative touch, the Portuguese company Paulo de Oliveira (Pad.3, stand G48), offers ideal solutions on its portfolio, which includes the shower clean suit fabric, which can be washed in the shower, and the biothermic fabric, with thermoregulation properties. A Penteadora (Pad.3, stand H54) and Tessimax Lanifício SA (Pad.3, stand H52) are other mandatory stops for those who want to stay on top of woollen fabrics able to refresh the hottest season.
These Portuguese companies participate in Milano Unica with the support of Associação Selectiva Moda, under the project From Portugal with the support of EU funds (QREN). This trade fair is one of the 68 international actions in 25 different markets, directed to areas as yarns, fabrics and accessories, fashion, home textiles and decoration and technical textiles, that the Portuguese association will hold in 2012, in a total investment of 8.85 million Euros.