Participation in Rio Grande do Sul grows at Fenin, the largest fashion fair in Latin America

The fashion and apparel sector from Rio Grande do Sul was present at the 27th edition of Fenin Fashion Gramado, in Serra Gaúcha. With 3,100 industries, 23,000 direct jobs and turnover of R$4.3 billion in business last year, according to data from Sebrae RS, the spirit of the brands in the sector in the stands is to regain space on the national scene.

Experimenta Farroupilha na Moda, for example, is one of the biggest attractions of the edition, with a completely “pink” booth that draws the attention of shopkeepers. In the space, 28 brands from the city have come together to present knitwear to other suppliers and shopkeepers from outside the state. “The idea is to show that by working together the sector becomes stronger. This strengthens the city as a whole, because, in addition to shopkeepers getting to know our garments, they also start to travel to Farroupilha to get to know the factories and malls. This strengthens business tourism, it is a chain”, said the secretary of Development, Tourism and Innovation, Regina Ducati.

The CEO of the Somos Moda brand, Victoria Thomaz, who is participating in the Experimenta stand, said that nine out of ten shopkeepers who pass through the place did not know the textile industrial center of Farroupilha. “We are reaching our goal. Fenin attracts a public with greater purchasing power, so it’s very important to be here. It is a resumption of our relevance in the sector”, she pointed out.

The commercial for Serra Moda, another exhibiting brand, Fernanda Niesvald, said that all brands received the same treatment and that they understood that, this way, they are stronger. “That way, even fashion agents will have more potential clients to attract to our city”, she reflected.

In another sector of the Fair, the Moda RS program, an initiative by Sebrae and the Union of Clothing Industries of Rio Grande do Sul (SIVERGS), brings together businesswomen from the world of clothing. “Alone, I would have to rent a small stand, it wouldn’t draw attention near big brands. Now, when we are all together here, it brings visibility”, said the owner of the brand from Rio Grande do Sul, Ana Rosa, Rosane Melo da Silva.

Her brand is 38 years old and is focused on making stylish clothes for all sizes. “They are tailor-made to be comfortable and different for all audiences,” she said. At her stand, several shopkeepers passed by in awe of the design of the clothes and were even more surprised to learn about the brand’s differential. Clothes with authorial prints and bright fabrics colored the racks. “Until about seven years ago, I was the only one doing this here. Today there are still few brands that wear extra large”, pondered the businesswoman.

For her, government support could facilitate the expansion of Rio Grande do Sul clothing outside the state. “We need to sell the glamor of fashion, São Paulo and Minas Gerais do that. We have the potential, here there is a lot of quality authorial brand, but it needs more incentive, we need to be at fairs in other states and countries. Here at Fenin, I close a lot of deals and make myself visible”, she contextualized. But she points out that having the support of entities is essential to maintain activities. “With Sebrae and the union, we managed to have the necessary support”, she said, referring to courses, lectures and training offered to fashion entrepreneurs in Rio Grande do Sul. “We are very united, I do everything for that here, I help set up the stands.”