Brazilian footwear industry upbeat on Francal

19 Jul '05

3 min read

The 36th edition of the International Footwear, Fashion Accessories, Machines and Components Tradeshow (Francal) will take place between the 13th and 16th of this month, in São Paulo.

Largest Latin American fashion event - Francal will be a confluence of Brazilian designers, shoe manufacturers and famous fashion designers.

Arab countries are among potential buyers for these products. World-renowned Brazilian stylists like Amir Slama, Alexandre Herchovitch, Walter Rodrigues, Maurício Medeiros, Gloria Coelho, Jota Syballena, Serpui Marie, Patachou and Lino Villaventura will present shoes created especially for the event.

They will take part, for the first time, in a national fair in the shoe segment at the Brazilian Designer Association (Abest).

Francal's marketing manager, Sâmia Hannouche, explained that the approximation of fashion designers and the Brazilian Association of Shoe and Leather Components Industries (Assintecal) began last year, when Abest was created.

"Assintecal develops surveys regarding trends in colors and leather, and depending on the availability of raw materials, designers develop their own prototypes," she said.

So both sides win: for shoe brands, the nametag of a renowned stylist adds value to the product and helps sales; for fashion creators, the association to a solid market guarantees good business.

Maurício Medeiros, the only designer specialized in shoes at Abest, is one of the mainpromoters of this union. According to him, the Brazilian industry is finally realizing the value of design in business.

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