São Paulo – Summer is the best shoe-selling season in Brazil, and what is new in sandals, shoes, purses and accessories for the period may be seen at Francal, Latin America’s largest shoe and accessory fair, due July 5th to 8th at the Anhembi Park, in São Paulo.
Over 1,000 exhibitors will showcase their 2011 spring/summer collections. The colours of the season range from pastel tones to stronger ones, such as pink, dark green, and orange. The designs themselves are also quite varied, including low-, thin-, thick- and platform-heeled sandals, and transparent and wooden heels that provide elegance to the footwear.
Company Via Uno, for instance, a traditional shoemaker that has stores in the United Arab Emirates, is going to showcase four lines at Francal. One of them is Fantasy Lady, a romantic line featuring -tone purses and shoes, such as off white and light pink. Frills, loops, lace and flower prints may be found in high-heel, midsole, and low-heel sandals. For the remaining lines, the company invested in leather shoes, combining cork and rope, jeans, satin, and buckles.
Designer Jorge Bischoff, who will also have a booth at Francal and already exports to Saudi Arabia, is going to present a natural line, with jeans, grosgrain and satin fabrics. Vibrant colors and flower prints are also highlights of the summer line. The men’s line also brings new features. In addition to shoes, the designer presents purses, suitcases and leather accessories.
One of the new items that women’s shoe companies should introduce is clog shoes. Company Calçados Bebecê, for instance, will display clogs with stones, loops and ribbons. Another hot model for the summer is the boot with strips that leaves part of the foot exposed.
Comfort and technology are also features of the shoe collections. Many comfort-oriented lines feature shock absorption systems. Calçados Bebecê’s B+ shock-absorption system, for instance, absorbs the impact of walking, especially on the heels. Piccadilly, for instance, also presents a line with more flexible, soft soles, that guarantee comfort.
Francal
According to the organizers of Francal, more than 60,000 visitors are expected in the four days of the fair. The event will also count on the participation of 60 international buyers from Latin American countries.
The Brazilian footwear industry is responsible for 352,000 jobs, distributed throughout more than 8,000 factories. The country is the world’s third largest shoe manufacturer, with 815 million pairs a year. It is also the fifth largest exporter, and sells to more than 140 countries. Revenues from foreign sales totalled US$ 1.3 billion last year.
Service
Francal – International Shoes and Fashion Accessories Fair
Date: July 5th to 8th
Time: 10:00 am to 08:00 pm (on the 8th, from 10:00 am to 05:00 pm)
Place : Anhembi Park
Address: Olavo Fontoura Ave, 1209
Site: www.feirafrancal.com.br
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
