More than $7.5 million the business generated by the 31st edition of INSPIRAMAIS

More than a thousand innovative materials presented by the more than 150 exhibitors and dedicated to the footwear, apparel, tapestry, furniture and jewelry industries, with an expected turnover of more than $7.5 million: these are the interesting numbers that characterized the 31st edition of INSPIRAMAIS, held January 21-22 at the FIERGS Event Center in Porto Alegre/RS , Brazil. The traditional event dedicated to innovation showcased a wide range of cross-sectional materials from Brazilian leather suppliers-from bovine to exotic skins-offering stylists, buyers, and brand managers a highly curated selection of business partners, as well as other materials that are an integral part of the fashion supply chain, concentrating in one space all the resources necessary for the development of creative and quality fashion collections. Indeed, we recall that Brazilian leather is in high demand and sought after, even by Italian and European companies, because of its high quality.

According to Silvana Dilly, superintendent of the Brazilian Association of Leather, Footwear and Manufactured Components Companies (Assintecal), INSPIRAMAIS showed the recovery of the fashion production chain, which was shaken by the floods that devastated Rio Grande do Sul last May. “The transversality of materials as a competitive tool has helped the sector in this recovery. Today we have brought together here materials that serve from the pet market to the footwear market, thus offering a wide variety of possibilities.”

Present for the first time at the Inspiramais show was the automotive upholstery sector, which generated significant business in both the domestic and international markets.

New projects also included the Buyer Project, carried out as part of Brazilian Footwear, an export support program for the components sector promoted by Assintecal in collaboration with the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil) and which brought 23 international groups from Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico and Paraguay to the show.

Inspiramais is promoted by the Centre for the Brazilian Tanning Industry (CICB), the Brazilian Association of Companies of Components for Leather, Footwear, and Artifacts (Assintecal), the Brazilian Textile and Apparel Industry Association (Abit), the Brazilian Furniture Industry Association (Abimóvel), and the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil).

Discovering the COURO & ARTE and BOLZANO tanneries

On the occasion of Inspiramais, the editorial staff of ARS SUTORIA was invited to visit two important tanneries in the Rio Grande Do Sul region. These are the COURO & ARTE tannery (www.couroearte.net), based in Lindolfo Collor, the national capital of cowhide products. With more than 20 years of presence in the market, it operates in the processing of hides (mainly pony leather) for footwear, furniture and decoration, distinguishing itself by an innovative vision and high product quality. Present in the international market (Australia, New Zelanza, China, USA and Europe), it exhibits at Lineapelle Milan and Lineapelle New York.

Another visit of great interest was to the BOLZANO tannery (www.bolzanobrasil.com) based in São Leopoldo city. A modern tannery, established 25 years ago, with state-of-the-art machinery of the best Italian brands and about 100 employees, very attentive to sustainability and LWG Gold certified. Specializing in a quality product, Bolzano is positioned in the medium-high end of the market: the heart of production is nappa leather for the fashion world. They have an international clientele in different countries such as Colombia and Argentina in South America, France and Italy in Europe, and work with many American brands. The owner is of Italian origin, Sergio Bolzan Panerai, while the business is run by his son Augusto Panerei, who attends major international fairs, starting with Lineapelle Milan and Lineapelle New York.