São Paulo – Exports of Brazilian stylist Victor Dzenk began three years ago and in little time, Kuwait is already the main market abroad. The colourful dresses and tunics by the brand attracted the attention of Arab women, not just in Kuwait, but also in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Qatar and Bahrain. "The clothes have much to do with the women of the Middle East due to the prints and embroideries. They have been very successful up to now," said the stylist, who is from the southeastern Brazilian state of Minas Gerais.
Contacts with Arab retailers at Fashion & Style, a showroom in Paris, organized by the French Monah Ferrarte, who is of Lebanese origin. "She focuses on the Middle East," said Dzenk, who is going to participate in the showroom for the sixth time in October. Since his first participation, three years ago, the volume of products exported has grown 60%. "In the first showroom we managed to open 12 clients. Today, we have 30," he said.
The Al Ostoura shop in Kuwait, for example, is an exclusive distributor in the Arab country. With four multi brand shops, Al Ostoura represents over 50 international brands, like Marc Jacobs, Jean Paul Gaultier, John Galliano and Givenchy, among others. In 2010, Dzenk plans to promote a technical visit to clients in the Middle East. According to him, the idea is to promote work with the shop in Kuwait. "To help clients at the shop to get dressed, organize the window, something like that," he said.
According to Dzenk, the trip to the Middle East should also inspire him to find new prints. "When I travel, I buy many books and end up getting inspired on the culture of the country to create a collection. There, I will certainly find inspiration," said the stylist this week in Angola, here he should promote a parade in the fashion week in the country.
Always eyeing new markets, Dzenk has already participated in fashion events in Germany, Colombia, Andorra and Mexico. He believes that his exports, which currently vary from 15% to 20% of production, present many opportunities for growth. After Angola, his next event should be in Canada, in 2010, also to present and promote the brand. "Like Brazil, there are other countries that are more optimistic with regard to the end of the crisis. It is necessary to take advantage," he said.
With showrooms in Belo Horizonte and in Lagoa Santa, Victor Dzenk has a team of 50 employees and production of 15,000 items per collection. With much embroidery, silk and Jersey, Dzenk said that his clothes are for women with an attitude, "who are not concerned about their bodies, who do not fear appearing and who want to make a stand," he said.
Since the age of 15
Victor Dzenk started in the fashion world early. At the age of 15 he already worked in garment production. He studied fashion in Paris, at ESMOD, École Superieure de Mode, and worked for several brands in Minas. In 1992, the stylist established his own brand and in 98 he started signing brand products with his own name.
Contact
Victor Dzenk
Site: www.victordzenk.com
*Translated by Mark Ament
