São Paulo – First, the domestic market. But then, as soon as possible, they want to take the items they produce abroad. The Arab countries, by the way, are welcome as potential future clients of the 18 enterprises that comprise the Textile Hub of Capivari, a city in the interior of the state of São Paulo, 108 kilometres away from the capital. Established in August last year with support from organizations such as the local Brazilian Micro and Small Business Support Service (Sebrae), the initiative consists of organizing and providing training to clothing industry businessmen. There, the flagship product is jeans items.
“We are concluding a phase of evaluating companies, and then we will help elaborate a specific management project for each of them,” explains the Projects manager of Sebrae Piracicaba, Richard Tavares do Nascimento. “We are already thinking of promoting a trade fair late this year to exhibit only products made in the city,” says Nascimento.
According to him, the main objective of the hub is precisely to provide visibility to the local production. “Capivari has everything to become a nationwide reference in clothing,” he claims. “And it has potential for exporting in the future,” he states.
The owner of the Memphis textile mill, which specializes in jeans, businesswoman Nelly Bertolini Piai Rossi explains that the hub is going to help companies strengthen their businesses. Currently, she supplies items for other companies to sew their labels on, but wants to develop her own brand from now on. It would be the first step in order to export the trousers, Bermuda shorts and jackets she makes in the future. “Why not?,” she asks. “In Arab countries, for instance, acceptance is good for Brazilian fashion,” she finishes off.
Also seeking greater acceptance, Freechock, which specializes in children’s clothing (for ages 0 to 16), is going to launch its own collection in late June. The company also supplies products to store chain Renner. “The idea is to invest in our name,” explains the trade manager of Freechock, Thaís Fernanda Albiero Padovani Kerche.
With an output of 30,000 items per month, the textile mill will make sailor-style clothing for the year’s hottest season, using and abusing shades of blue, white and red. “We are enthused, and we know that we still have lots of work to do domestically,” says Thaís. “Then we will be able to export,” she claims. Is there an interest in possible Arab buyers? “Yes, of course. We know that the region is worth investing in,” she asserts.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
