Portugal Fashion returns with audience and news. “In the next six editions we will receive 40 African designers” – Observer
The first day of the 49th edition of Portugal Fashion did not have the right to shows on the calendar or the usual bustle behind the scenes. The start took place at Alfândega in Porto with the forum “Portugal – Round Table on Investments in Africa”, an initiative that promotes reflection, debate and networking dedicated to business, investments, exports and partnerships between Portugal and Africa in the textile and clothing sector.
“Today is the beginning of a three-year agreement published by Afreximbank, whose process has several phases and foresees the coming of 40 African designers to Portugal Fashion in the next six editions and the holding of economic forums, like this one, with the aim of creating bridges between Portugal and the African continent in terms of creative industries, design and the textile universe ”, explains Alexandre Meireles, president of the National Association of Young Entrepreneurs (Anje), responsible for the Portugal Fashion .
The intention is that there are investment plans between the two parts of the globe, enabling African fashion designers to produce their creations in Portugal and giving Portuguese companies the opportunity to invest across borders, obtain financing and share their knowledge. “Portuguese fashion can gain a lot from this way of internationalizing here, bringing African buyers, brands and designers and thus increasing the dimension of Portugal Fashion ”, former president and president of Anje.
In addition to this Tuesday’s conference, which was attended by more than a dozen speakers, including Eurico Brilhante Dias, Secretary of State for Internationalization, or Rui Moreira, president of the Porto Chamber, around 20 designers from different African countries present their work in this edition of Portugal Fashion, hitchhiking with the Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) program, where the production of sustainable fashion, the importance of the circular economy in the industry and the role of responsible design for the new generations are some of the premises present.
Anissa Still (Tunisia), Doreen Mashika (Tanzania), Mafi Mafi (Ethiopia) will be part of Bloom, a fashion platform dedicated to emerging talent; Anyango Mpinga (Kenya), Odio Mimonet (Nigeria), Maison D’Afie (Cameroon), Rich Mnisi (South Africa) and Taibo Bacar (Mozambique) will occupy the main catwalk until Saturday; and 12 brands obtain the BrandUp, the Portugal Fashion showroom that will feature around 90 exhibitors as a showcase.
“The program aims to promote annually around 40 African designers, who benefit from networking with national and international industry experts, as well as retailers and manufacturers competitive in the Portuguese market”, reads in the presentation of the initiative.
Portugal Fashion takes place until Saturday at Alfândega do Porto, at that moment when the event returns to the public. Since taking office as president of ANJE, in March 2020, Alexandre Meireles recalls that he has not yet had the opportunity to organize a completely unrestricted edition.
“The public is one of the reasons why Portugal Fashion exists, both for designers and models, a face-to-face environment is something completely different”, he says to the Observer, contributing that the event’s contingency plan is really “bullet proof”. “We will verify that everyone has a digital certificate or a negative test and we will ensure that the use of masks and social distance are respected. We have to remain alert because this is not over yet. ”