THE (R)EVOLUTION OF THE PORTUGUESE FABRICS IN MILAN
Innovation sets the tone for the fabrics “made in Portugal” for Spring/Summer 2014 of Somelos, Riopele, Arco Têxteis, Albano Morgado, Lemar, Paulo de Oliveira, A Penteadora and Tessimax. Antibacterial, water repellence, easy care are already inherent properties to the Portuguese proposals in exhibition at Milano Unica and nothing better than the famous Travel Suit to illustrate them.
Innovation sets the tone for the fabrics “made in Portugal” for Spring/Summer 2014 of Somelos, Riopele, Arco Têxteis, Albano Morgado, Lemar, Paulo de Oliveira, A Penteadora and Tessimax. Antibacterial, water repellence, easy care are already inherent properties to the Portuguese proposals in exhibition at Milano Unica and nothing better than the famous Travel Suit to illustrate them.
The eight Portuguese companies, a reference below and beyond frontiers in the art of weaving, participate at the renowned Italian trade fair dedicated to fabrics with the support of Associação Selectiva Moda.
The biggest wool group of Europe, Paulo de Oliveira Group, is at Ideabiella with a triple bet: Tessimax, Paulo de Oliveira and A Penteadora. Tessimax proposes a myriad of fabrics with the best qualities of wool, noble blends (silk, mohair, cashmere, etc.) and high tech finishing, namely anti-static, water repellent and even anti-stress. Paulo de Oliveira reinvented the concept of Travel Suit, washable in a normal laundry machine and that also includes easy-care, antibacterial and aroma therapeutic finishing, while A Penteadora has rejuvenated its offer, covering a much younger consumer. «We are refreshing our line with more articles for jacketing and trousers and less for suits. Jackets have more colours, some strong ones, and less traditional compositions, mainly in blends with cotton, linen, rayon and bamboo», explains Paolo Zantonelli, sales manager of the company, which also proposes articles to be dyed and washed by the customers.
In Shirt Avenue, the best fabrics for shirting are at Arco Têxteis and Somelos Tecidos, two leading exponents of the sector, who propose an eclectic and sophisticated portfolio, with products certified by Oeko-Tex, of top qualities, yarn dyed and innovative finishing.
Regarding Moda In, it receives the new collections of Albano Morgado, specialized in wool fabrics, Riopele and Lemar, made famous by its yarn dyed stripes. «Design, colour, fantasy and glamour mark our offer for Spring/Summer 2014», unveils CEO Manuela Araújo, that also guarantees the presentation of «innovative fabrics, which our customers are always waiting for». Riopele, on its side, highlights the three-dimensional structures and fabrics. «Following the preview editions, Riopele has as main goal to consolidate markets, especially Italy, since 95% of the customers that visit us are from this country, with the small percentage remaining for United Kingdom, Germany and Russia. We really hope that this edition is at the same level that the previous ones», concludes Rita Fortes, market manager of the company.
Italy is the fourth market for the Portuguese fabrics, with exports between January and October 2012 amounting to 23.3 million euro.
The participation of the Portuguese companies at Milano Unica is an initiative promoted by Associação Selectiva Moda with the support of European funds (Qren), under the project From Portugal. This project includes more than 60 international actions planned for 2013, which cover the entire textile and fashion chain, divided by four continents: Europe, Asia, Africa and America.
