Most awaited event among Brazilian designers and fashion professionals within the leather and textile segments, the Summer 2017 edition of Inspiramais – Design and Innovation Exhibition comes to and end with highly positive reviews. Promoted by CICB (the Centre for the Brazilian Tanning Industry) and Assintecal (the Brazilian Association of Companies of Components for Leather, Footwear and Manufactured Goods), with support from projects Brazilian Leather and Footwear Components by Brasil, the exhibition took place between January 11th and 12th at the Frei Caneca Convention Center, in São Paulo.
Leather and skins manufacturers that showcased their novelties at Inspiramais all share encouraging remarks.
Producer of special skins made through 100% vegetable tanning, Aguapele, from Pindorama, São Paulo, assures that the event was very effective in gathering the right public. “We saw key professionals, with decision-making power, walking around the hall”, says development manager Ana Cláudia Zancaner. “Inspiramais provides the exposure we need in an environment that is truly what we look for.”
Commercial manager at Aplic Colour, Camila Mattes also left the event well pleased with the contacts made. Specially after welcoming a delegation of Indian buyers on her stand. “For us, it was a very good event. In fact, Inspiramais is always an excellent opportunity for consolidating brands and products”, she analyses. In the exhibition, Aplic Colour released three new kinds of leather imprints: pleated, geometric, and snake. In the color palette, tones of pink, cognac and blue (from navy blue to jeans) stood out.
Director at Arte da Pele, Luis Estevão Bocchi also brought a series of novelties to Inspiramais. The tannery’s highlight was the collection of articles with phosphorescent pigments, that glow in the dark and when in contact with black light. According to Bocchi, “Inspiramais is seen by tanneries as an ideal moment for promoting new products”.
Aware that footwear, handbags and accessories manufacturers come to Inspiramais looking to ‘innovate’ their collections, Couro e Arte developed a series of new articles especially for the exhibition. The collection of products with geometric 3D prints and imprints bringing stones textures were a stand out. “The event was very well organized. We left Inspiramais even more certain about the potential of the Brazilian fashion industry”, says commercial manager Eric Heck.
Júlio Pimenta, from Couroquímica, was thrilled that his company’s stand welcomed pretty much the same number of visitors than last year. “Brazil’s economic context didn’t give us much expectation, but the event surprised us all. We welcomed around 100 buyers. It was a very positive event indeed”, he stresses. Couroquímica’s greatest novelty for Summer 2017 is Vecchio, a versatile, vintage looking material, indicated for the confection of handbags and shoes.
Silkscreen, blob and transfer were incorporated by Curtume Rusan for its Summer 2017 collection. According to commercial manager Camila Koefender, Rusan committed itself to creating unique articles for this year’s edition of Inspiramais. “We anticipated to the Brazilian public the products we’re going to exhibit in international trade fairs. Each and every article was developed with the highest standards”, says Koefender.
Fabiano Foloni, from FAF Couros, says Inspiramais is an exhibition to “be seen and remembered”. “Taking part in this event is just vital in order to be in direct contact with clients.” To this year’s edition, FAF Couros took to Inspiramais articles with more ‘natural’ aspects. “The market hasn’t taken much risks. It’s looking for more basic and traditional leather. Our collection looks to serve this demand”, he explains.
The same strategy was adopted by Fuga Couros. This year the tannery presented a ‘lean’ palette in order to supply a market that is more and more ‘objective’. Commercial manager Nikolas Fuga was pleased with the public profile. “What we see is a group of focused and serious professionals, who do their research, understand fashion, and are looking to adapt fashion trends to consumer reality.”
Marcelo Grandi da Silva, from Natur, understands that “Inspiramais is the best Brazilian event in terms of visibility for tanneries that offer products of high aggregate value”. From the products developed by the company for the exhibition, he says the highlights are the greasy, varnished, croco and metalized articles.
Specialized in the production of hair-on leather, OCM Best Brasil took the opportunity to promote new releases – “after all, people who come to Inspiramais are always looking for the new”, reflects commercial representative Rafael Lampert. The mini-zebra prints, usually produced in black and white because of its high demand, was also presented in several colors. Zig-zag prints were also among the tannery’s novelties.
Director at RhomaPelles, Raul Hatmann says Inspiramais is “spot on”. “It’s always what we expect from it – stands focused on products and a select public.” From his collection, Hatmann believes the line of light leather with elastane for the production of women pants is a highlight, specially because of its ‘summery’ colors, such as orange, pink and blue.
Stonewashed leather, cut and with detailed fibers so to make it even softer got everyone’s attention at Romeu Couros’s stand. The number of visitors welcomed by the company left director Rodrigo Saragiotto pretty excited. He believes this year’s edition set the stone for the sector’s recovery, following all difficult challenges faced in 2015 because of the country’s poor economy.
A great admirer of Inspiramais, commercial director of Santa Croce, Rodrigo Rodrigues, says the “event’s concept is connected to all major international exhibitions”. “Inspiramais gathers companies that only present their material after an intense research and development process. Therefore, they all deliver what they promise: innovation”, adds Rodrigues. “Also, there is a standard for the way companies present their products, which makes the product stand out, not the size of one’s stand.”
Recognized for working with bovine rumen and frog skin, Schmechel is now producing lamb and rabbit skins. During Inspiramais, the company revealed impeccable articles such as the vintage creped lamb, a real crowd pleaser. Its ‘elephant skin effect’ shows how versatile the material can truly be. According to director Letícia Dorow, the article awoke people’s curiosity, reaching the company’s objective of bringing professionals linked to research, development and fashion brands closer to Schmechel.
For its first participation at Inspiramais, SecctradeLeather made sure to exhibit leather with natural aspects, emphasizing its collection of articles chromefreeand tanned with aldehydes.
TreAnytry took the opportunity to show that leather and skins of high aggregate value may be even more luxurious. The company took to Inspiramais Summer 2017 python and caiman skins with gemstone. According TreAnytry representative Angélica Volcato, even though the event usually brings positive results for the company, this year’s edition surprised everyone. “We came to the event with very low expectations, hence the market’s current reality. A lot of clients that don’t usually work with special skins came to us looking for alternatives to differentiate their products”, says Volcato.
PREVIEW DO COURO (Leather Preview) – This edition of Inspiramais showcased inspirations for Summer 2017. However, it also anticipated future trends for next year’s coldest season. The project Preview do Couro Winter 2017 (Leather Preview Winter 2017) presented during this year’s event gathered creations from 17 tanneries. CICB’s initiative is aimed at anticipating leather and skins that will be used in the production of handbags, shoes, clothes and accessories for Winter 2017.
Its color palette highlights tones that reproduce the plurality of human skin. Colors that celebrate life also standout: pink, blue, yellow, green, and orange – nothing but essential for the collections’ harmony and chromatic composition.
Guided by fashion stylist Walter Rodrigues as well as designers Marnei Carminatti and Ramon Oliveira Soares, from Assintecal’s Design Centre, articles developed for the project will now be exhibited at all major international leather events through the Brazilian Leather project, that is coordinated by CICB in partnership with Apex-Brasil, the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency.
TOP 20– Inspiramais Summer 2017 also announced the winners of Top 20, initiative that awards brands responsible for developing the most innovative products. In the leather segment, Arte da pele, Couro & Arte, Couroquímica, Curtume Rusan, and Fuga Couros S.A. were the companies awarded.
NEW LOCATION – From its next edition, Inspiramais will take place at a new location. Also in São Paulo, the Pro Magno Events hosts the event between June 27th and 28th.
Please visit www.inspiramais.com.br for more information.
