São Paulo – The city of Muriaé, in the interior of Minas Gerais, is among those responsible for supplying pyjamas, night gowns, robes and short dolls to large retail stores, small shops and pedlars all over Brazil. The city makes 240,000 garments a year, mainly for sleeping, and has revenues of 28 million Brazilian reals (US$ 15 million). In 2001, the Muriaé hub, like other Brazilian organisations in the sector, suffered with Chinese competition and should notice a 6% drop in production. But for 2012, plans include the return to growth.
"In previous years, we grew above the Brazilian average,” said the regional delegate of the Association of the Textile Industry in Minas Gerais (Sindivest-MG), Carlos Magno de Oliveira. According to him, as the companies have lost space, mainly in large retail chains, where imports from China have grown, the strategy is to turn itself more to small establishments and to try to return to the 6% to 7% growth rate.
The Muriaé hub includes 434 producers, mainly small ones. Of all the companies, 64% are turned to male and female sleeping garments. Of the total produced, 80% is for women. Some companies make sophisticated items, said the Sindivest-MG delegate, but most of the clothes are turned to the middle or lower class, which results in cotton or PV being the main raw material used.
Companies started operating in the area around 40 years ago, due to high employability and also to the fact that they could hire female labour. “The region included engine factories and dairy farming. Female labour was not employed much,” said Oliveira. Factories started appearing to generate greater income and the hub grew and gained strength. Currently, the companies at the hub employ 20 people, on average. But, apart from formal companies, there are also informal ones, representing 50% of the hub, explained Oliveira.
The companies, according to Oliveira, are open to exports, in case there are interested buyers, but do not plan any effort in this respect for the time being. There was an attempt, eight years ago, with actions in Europe and South America, but the project did not develop. "Our national market is great, and we decided to work the domestic market,” said Oliveira. In Brazil, the sector participates in fairs like Fenit, in São Paulo, and Fevest, in Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro.
The commercial part of each company is individual, but, together, they define strategies like joint participation in fairs and areas where there will be training. Normally, this qualification and participation in fairs counts with the assistance of organisations connected to the sector, like the Brazilian Micro and Small Business Support Service (Sebrae), National Service of Industrial Education (Senai), the Council for Economic Development of the Garment Sector in Muriaé, connected to the City Hall, and Sindivest.
*Tradução de Mark Ament
