Brazilian Footwear
Brazilian Footwear, a program in partnership with the Brazilian Trade and Investments Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil), operates as an advocate for the policies favored by the Brazilian shoe industry. The program watches over the industry’s interests and acts directly on domestic and foreign issues pertaining to the the industry’s activities. The footwear manufacturers represented by Brazilian Footwear are responsible for an annual production of approximately 770 million pairs of shoes, distributed globally to more than 140 countries with the U.S. as the principal buyer. We’re talking with Cris Kopschina, the U.S. spokesperson for the association, to get a sneak peak of the brands attending FN PLATFORM, the shoe show at MAGIC.
Q: What styles can we expect from the Spring/Summer 2012 collections being exhibited at Platform?
A: Each of the 15 brands attending the event has a unique flair. Attendees can expect to see lots of bold styles and colors with ethnic influences like animal prints and textures. Even the brands with the cleanest lines have extravagant cuts and unique patterns.
Q: What is it about Brazilian fashion that stands out amongst domestic designers?
A: It’s a combination of the country’s multicultural influences and Brazil’s geographic isolation. Brands in Brazil produce their own materials and designs – it’s less dependent on other countries for manufacturing.
Q: What is your target demographic?
A: Brazilian footwear is known for its trend-setting style, exceptional quality and fair price, so it’s accessible to a wide audience. The brands attending platform will have styles for men, women and children for occasions that vary from the office and weekend-wear to formal and fun.
Q: What are a few of the brands we should look out for at Platform?
A: Quite a few of the brands attending Platform are already available in the U.S., including Luiza Barcelos, Piccadilly and Morenatom. We’re also very excited to see attendees’ reaction to the up-and-coming brands like Amazonas, Stéphanie Classic and Cecconello Divas.
For more information, please visit www.brazilianfootwear.com. Also, if you'd like to meet with Chris or one of the brands highlighted above at FN Platform, please email: BRFootwear@pancomm.com.
