Renewed optimism

On 4–5 June, the Pro Magno Events Center in São Paulo, Brazil, hosted Inspiramais, the pre-eminent design exhibition in Latin America, an event that brought together information from across the supply chain that unifies the language and methodology for the entire fashion industry, enabling it to forge ahead.

Responsible for encouraging a process that involves the entire industry – and with the aim of developing fashion with a genuinely Brazilian identity – the exhibition fully covers the design and fashion markets in Brazil, Latin America and European countries, aligning contents for the leather, footwear, accessories, clothing, furniture, and costume jewellery industries.

“The market has gradually breathed with optimism again, it is re-emerging – and Inspiramais brings exactly this spirit of freshness in a moment of renewal,” said Ilse Guimarães, superintendent of the Brazilian Association of Companies of Components for Leather, Footwear and Manufactured Goods (Assintecal). “The exhibition has seen an increase in the participation of the textile, furniture and jewellery industries. New sectors, such as the automobile industry, have also been incorporated into the event, while other market segments have been strengthened – and we are also already preparing for the entry of the pet industry.”

A new philosophy

This season, the development of the entire Inspiramais project was based on the theme of ‘Zen’, an attitude that presupposes the conscience of others and respect for individuality, showing that the essential is something that benefits companies and consumers.

“I was very happy with this edition of Inspiramais because we looked at people and could see that they had understood the idea of ‘Zen’,” said Walter Rodrigues, curator and coordinator of Inspiramais. “Culturally and politically speaking, the world really needs to pay attention to things, and the most important words are ‘being present’. You have got to understand what is happening in your company at that very moment as if you were open to the whole world.”

He added that while talking with exhibitors and visitors, he could see that they were looking for this ‘being present’ narrative, the importance of understanding what is going on at large because the world is increasingly fluid.

“And this fluidity is already migrating to the next Inspiramais, when we will be talking about Synchrony,” he added. “And further ahead, in 2021, it is going to merge with the thought that all this energy and technology, combined with this sensation of being present, will create a new, truer and rosier future.”

Season’s figures and outcomes

Inspiramais received around 7,000 visitors, including professionals in the sector, buyers and opinion leaders, who saw up close innovative items encompassing creation, design and technology, totalling some 1,000 products presented by 180 companies.

Designer Sheila Morais from SD Acessórios in Currais Novos in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, was visiting Inspiramais for the second time, and said that the creation of her leather goods is based on the trends presented during the exhibition.

“I buy leather, synthetics and hardware for my handbags and fine costume jewellery,” said Morais, who produces thousands of costume jewels and handbags each month. “Here, I also draw inspiration from the research material to guide the entire colour palette of my line of enamelled accessories.”

The exhibition also attracted 440 buyers from different regions of the country; namely, São João Batista (Santa Catarina); Maringá (Paraná); Goiânia (Goiás); Rio de Janeiro; Salvador (Bahia); Juruaia, Nova Serrana and Divinópolis (Minas Gerais); and Birigui, Jaú, São José do Rio Preto and Franca (São Paulo). The initiative was carried out in partnership with the Brazilian Micro and Small Business Support Service (SEBRAE) and several regional trade unions.

Inspiramais also featured different initiatives, such as the Buyer Project, through which the exhibition received representatives from 30 companies from Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru and Portugal. Altogether, 720 business rounds were held and the Buyer Project generated $10.9 million in international business deals.

“We are importers of footwear raw materials and it is the first time we have done business with Brazilian companies and visited the exhibition,” said Sara Maria Charry from Colombian company Cavicueros. “The structure, the products, the quality and the concept show that there is a fashion study that is hardly found in Latin America. I think this exhibition is very important for the whole region, with choices of innovative, environmentally conscious and very well-structured materials.”

15.8 million
Brazilian hides and skins exports for April 2019 in square metres.
Brazilian Leather

Projects, talks, start-ups and fashion

The two-day event went beyond the 180 booths and innovative products. The innovation, technology and sustainability pillars were linked to various conceptual and fashion reference projects, and the talks combining sustainability, social impact and innovation were a massive draw.

In addition, the integration between large Brazilian and international industries with start-ups provided an occasion for the exchange of experiences, information and business opportunities.

The talks were another highlight of Inspiramais. The more than 20 presentations at the Innovation Arena provided visitors with information, while connecting products, experiences and cases for the entire fashion chain. Together with the innovations, a space dedicated to eight start-ups featured a range of sustainable technologies for companies, which generated not just knowledge, but also new possibilities for partnerships between industries.