São Paulo – Last year, 1,606 small and medium companies from Brazil exported clothes. In money, this represented US$ 1 billion. Yes, they are truly powerful in the textile sector, answering to 70% of the enterprises in the area. And, based mainly on innovation, design and “Brazilness”, they are gaining space abroad. For 2010, the target is to end the year with 5% expansion over foreign sales in 2009, when general revenues in the garment chain totalled US$ 1.2 billion.
“Many small companies still believe it is impossible to export, but that is changing," explained Rafael Cervone, the executive director of the Texbrasil program, developed by the Brazilian Textile and Apparel Industry Association (Abit), and president of the São Paulo Textile Union. “We have cases of companies with 30 employees that sell to over 40 countries," he said.
According to Cervone, the Brazilian textile industry has received total investment of US$ 1.5 billion in 2010. And the sector is growing due to actions like incentives to foreign sales. Developed in partnership with the Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil), Texbrasil has as its objective helping companies to enter the foreign market.
“We took 12 small and medium businesses to fair Who’s Next & Première Classe, in Dubai, last year, for example," he said. “And we brought 26 buyers and 15 journalists from the Middle East here to learn about the Brazilian production over the last five years," he explained.
Among the Arab countries, Morocco is the first in the Abit ranking of main international buyers in the textile sector, and 42nd in the global list. Then comes the United Arab Emirates (44th place), followed by Tunisia (53rd), Saudi Arabia (54th) and Lebanon (55th).
To the foreign trade consultant at the Sebrae São Paulo, Jaime Akila Kochi, there are 4,433 companies interested in buying clothes in Brazil on the BrazilTrade Net records, a data bank of the Commercial and Investment Promotion Department at the Ministry of Foreign Relations. And this information is a stimulator to greater participation of small companies in the sector.
“The greatest difficulty of thee companies is generating scale for exports. In this respect, it may be interesting to participate in consultancy to sell abroad," said Kochi. Another infallible tactic, according to him, is investing in quality. “Brazilian design is greatly appreciated abroad," he explained.
Beauty in detail
Design and Brazilian style are the highlights for Cali Corpus, from Santos, on the coast of São Paulo state, and the products are gaining space abroad. With just 12 employees, the company currently sells to Portugal and Spain, already having exported to France, England, Israel and Italy. Foreign trade already represents 30% of company production, mainly beach and gym clothes. And the company is interested in increasing this percentage, including sales to the Arabs. “Those nations are very interesting," explained Naiade Capelo, the Cali Corpus owner.
According to Naiade, bikinis and bathing suits always have artistic characteristics. “Foreigners like the embroidery, stones and thread added, as well as the knit and crochet, for example," she explained.
Businesswoman Monika Hornbostel also bets on this kind of differentiation to sell beach fashion abroad. And she takes exports so seriously that she turns 100% of production under her Anika brand to the foreign market. “The products have greater added value, and cost between US$ 160 and US$ 190 for end users, which have more market abroad," said Monika. The brand bathing suits are produced with luxury attachments like mother-of-pearl, sweet water pearls and semi-precious stones. “We use detailing in our bathing suits and bikinis," she explained.
Headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, Anika sells her products to Germany, Saudi Arabia, Canada, the Emirates, the United States, France, England, Lebanon and Turkey, among others. “There are over 15 countries," said Monika.
Among the Arab clients, the businesswoman explains that accessories and details are appreciated. "They are clients with great buying power who love strong colours and daring cuts," guarantees Monika, one of the many entrepreneurs in the textile sector with her attention turned to good opportunities abroad.
Contact
Anika Brazil
Telephone: (+55 21) 2529-6799
www.anikabrazil.com.br/html/index.htm
Cali Corpus
Telephone: (+55 13) 3227-4399
www.calicorpus.com.br
*Translated by Mark Ament
