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The balance could not be more positive for the handful of companies from the From Portugal committee that participated in another edition of Première Vision New York in the United States of America. Brito & Knitting, Crispim Abreu, Familitex, Lemar, and Bold Design described this edition as “above expectations”: an excellent signal coming from the other side of the Atlantic.
Lemar has no doubts that this edition of the New York event surpassed the movement of previous editions. “We received the visit of many American buyers, some English too, and we registered, in general, a pleasant improvement in the movement and several effective meetings”, says Manuela Araújo, CEO of Lemar.
Brito & Knitting was also optimistic and, considering itself as a company “taking its first steps on the American continent”, said it has received around twenty relevant buyers. “We received clients from international brands that were very interesting and very attentive to the issue of sustainability”, pointed out Paula Carreira.
Sustainable and premium were the attributes that buyers who arrived at the Familitex stand sought. “We received many Americans, namely from the New York area, but we also welcomed buyers from Canada, looking for sustainable and premium items. The 100% cashmere items, for example, were one of the attractions”, revealed Ana Araújo.
Crispim Abreu also felt in practice the high position of Portuguese ITV in the world, who, in the words of João Abreu, felt “a general interest in the collection from jacquards to our functional finishes with many visits from Americans from the New York but also Canadians.”
Making its debut at Première Vision New York, the textile design studio Bold Design also makes a positive result of this first experience. “We had good contacts. Now, it’s time to go back and do the so-called homework to make these contacts happen”, explains Jorge Ballester.
The participation of Portuguese SMEs in Première Vision New York is an initiative of Selectiva Moda and ATP – Portuguese Textile and Clothing Association, which aims to promote the internationalization of Portuguese companies in the textile sector. This fair is included in the From Portugal project, within the scope of the application submitted to the Portugal 2030 joint internationalization projects.