São Paulo – The Brazilian footwear industry has already started showcasing the looks of its 2012 spring-summer collection, and is betting on sales of wedge sandals. These are open sandals whose heels are as broad as the soles. According to the fashion consultant Gisele Petersen, this should be the prevailing type of footwear in the country during the summer. She underscores, however, that the variety of shoes in Brazilian fashion is broad. “There are proposals for all styles,” she says.
Wedge sandals could already be seen in abundance at the stands of the International Leather and Footwear Salon (Sicc, in the Portuguese acronym), held between late May and early June in the city of Gramado, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, and should be the stars of the International International Shoes, Fashion Accessories, Machines and Components Fair (Francal), one of the leading fairs for the industry in Brazil, due June 27th to 30th at the Anhembi exhibition centre, in São Paulo. Francal is usually a showcase for the industry not only for domestic wholesale, but also for importers.
Gisele claims that the main influences of the collection include the 1970s, which have permeated productions in the last few seasons and remain present in the fashion for next summer. That explains not only the broad heels of the sandals, but also the return of other models such as the Oxford, which is less open and more man-like. According to the consultant, however, it will feature flower prints and an upper with small holes.
According to the president of the Brazilian Association of Footwear Designers and the Like (Abeca), Valdemar da Silva, four main themes should guide the next spring-summer collection. One is the vintage spirit influenced by the 1970s, in the colours and Japan-isms, for instance, and the 1950s, in the delicate and luxurious character. Another theme will be exoticness and tribalism, with animal and flower prints, combining handcrafted and wild characteristics with influences of Africa, India, Turkey and Peru. The vibrant, sexy style will also be featured in the collections, according to him, as well as organic themes, providing the footwear with a more natural style.
Gisele also highlights the presence of the “natural” in Brazilian collections, and claims that materials such as rope, cork, jute and rustic leathers. Thus, there will be lot of raw tones in the footwear. However, according to her, there will also be lots of colours and flower prints. Another feature will be an abundance of cuts, small holes and stripes in the uppers, buckles, and open boot models, which are boot-shaped sandals, and ankle-tie sandals.
Silva, of the Abeca, asserts that Brazilian footwear boasts heavy international influence, which ends up “blocking out” surveys that could lead to a more Brazilian product. The Abeca president claims, however, that some national features, such as the colours, the sensuality, nature and the very beauty of the products, which has a lot to do, according to him, with Brazilian women themselves.
Some industries have already published pictures of their summer models on their websites, but most tend to make Francal into the stage for their launches. At the website of the fair, new releases by some exhibiting companies are already available. Biondini, for instance, claims that it sought inspiration in the 1970s, in San Francisco, California, a city that was the epicentre of counterculture. The company expressed a hippie style in its shoes, through flower prints, ropes and other elements. Divalesi announced that wood is the main material in its collection, granting the design a rustic character.
Service
Francal
June 27th to 30th
Anhembi Park – São Paulo
Site: www.feirafrancal.com.br
Telephone: (+55 11) 2226-3100
Email: atendimento@francal.com.br
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
