São Paulo – Stones have been used in fashion in the Arab world for hundreds of years and for the last two, company Vive Bella, from Rio Grande do Sul, entered the market and is exporting decoration for use in women’s dresses in the Middle East. With sporadic sales to the region, the company currently has clients in Lebanon and in the United Arab Emirates and believes that there is space to grow in the region.
The commercial advisor at the company, Daniel Izidoro, explained that he started making contact with the Arabs after participating in fair ModAmont, in Paris. "We produce decorations mostly for the shoe sector. Due to participation in the fair, we have started thinking about the decoration sector."
And it is in this sector that the company, for example, won Kymira, from Beirut. In the most recent order placed by the company, late last month, the organisation bought 320 items in 34 different models. "They are products with high added value. They use them in lines that are almost exclusive, with few units," he revealed.
The stones shipped to the Middle East are generally polyester and acrylic, but some clients prefer natural stones. According to Izidoro, the Arabs like large and colourful decorations. "They find this development we make different, with our mixed colours." Vive Bella also produces decorations in stones, metals and natural material, like wood, coconut and fibre.
Producing around 100,000 items a month, Vive Bella dedicates 4% of produce to the foreign market. Of this total, the Arabs represent around 1%, but Izidoro says that the company is interested in increasing sales to the Middle East. "I see great potential. When we participate in the fair [in Paris], we see a large numbers of visitors from the region."
Headquartered in Caxias do Sul, in Rio Grande do Sul, Vive Bella has been in operation since 1999 and employs 30 people. In 2009, the company posted revenues of 4 million reals (US$ 2.3 million).
Contact
Vive Bella
Tel.: (+55 54) 3227-3221
E-mail: vivebella@vivebella.com.br
Site: www.vivebella.com.br
*Translated by Mark Ament
