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The From Portugal companies present at JITAC were satisfied with the general movement in the corridors and stands during the three days of the fair: it was at the level of previous editions, if not higher. Albano Morgado, Bold Design Studio, Burel Factory, Casa da Malha, Fitecom, Lemar, Otojal, and Troficolor Denim Makers made up the Portuguese delegation, joined by Riopele, Paulo de Oliveira, and Penteadora, who were closing deals until the 19th in the Japanese market.
Troficolor Denim Makers describes the first day as “very positive”, with “a busy morning, although JITAC is not a flood fair”, said Ana Magalhães, export sales manager, speaking to T Jornal. “We made new contacts, we received orders, it was a good day for us”, summarized.
The Trofense company invested in its own stand in this edition: “The Japanese market is renowned, gaining customers’ trust is certain, and offers opportunities for growth. For this edition, we reinforced our investment and, in addition to the usual presence at the agent’s stand, we have our own stand, where we show our identity in a varied collection”, continued.
The visitors requested twills along with denim: “Denim is increasingly present in the daily lives of the Japanese, which is good for us”, also noting the demand for sustainable, more specifically for Tencel, as a biodegradable option, “more than cotton”.
Nuno Neves, head of exports at Fitecom, was also pleased with the progress of participation: “The fair is going better than expected, with a higher influx of customers than last season”, Nuno Neves told T Jornal. “Mostly active customers arrive, with whom we already do business and who want to continue”, added, stressing that “entry into this market has to be done slowly”. The required quality of the response to the demand for sustainability is assured. “As we offer wool, we can say that it is a product of sustainable and biodegradable origin”, recalled.
It is with a remarkable commitment to sustainability that Lemar also works in the Japanese market. “Visitors are surprised by what we can do with certain materials, such as tires and plastics collected from the oceans or landfills. They are open to new materials and excited to learn how to use them”, said José António, manager of the Japanese market, during the second day of the fair.
Regarding the environment in the venue, the person in charge recalls that “it is a show with different characteristics from those in Europe. Divided into three floors: visitors start on the first floor, which is where we are, and then continue, so the turnout is greater in the morning”, explains. This is a relevant edition for Lemar in the sense that the company is “restructuring its strategy in the Japanese market”, with the introduction of a new agent.
The Portuguese presence at JITAC was accompanied by a From Portugal Forum that served as a showcase. “The Forum is well located, right at the entrance to the fair, many customers stay in the forum, look at the samples, ask questions and then come to us”, mentioned Ana Magalhães, praising: “It is well thought out, structured and is an important point to attract attention to made in Portugal”, concluded.
The participation of Portuguese SMEs in JITAC is an initiative of Selectiva Moda and ATP – Associação Têxtil e Vestuário de Portugal, which aims to promote the internationalization of Portuguese companies in the textile sector. This fair is in the From Portugal project, within the scope of the application presented to the Portugal 2030 joint internationalization projects.