Contact with importers from the Middle East took place by means of a showroom that Mabel shares with more than 12 international brands in Paris, France. The first exports went to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Then came the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar and Lebanon.
"Sales to the Arab countries, our main destination market, grow by an annual average of 7% to 10%. In 2009, despite the world crisis, we hope to maintain the sales level of last year," says Ruy Magalhães, in charge of the brand's international business.
The collections shipped to the Arab market usually undergo some adjustments in length, colors, prints and sizes. "They buy lots of party dresses, always accompanied by scarves," he explains.
Presently, 12% of the brand's production goes to the foreign market. France, Spain, Portugal and Russia also import clothing by Mabel Magalhães. "We also have an office in Madrid, Spain, in partnership with a local businessman," says Magalhães.
In order to keep in touch with its foreign clients, the brand usually participates in fairs such as the Madrid International Fashion Week and the Collection Première Moscow (CPM), in Russia, where Mabel was the only Brazilian brand invited to showcase its creations during the 2008 edition.
With 30 years in the market, two stores of its own and over 180 clients in the domestic market, Mabel manufactures high value-added women's clothes, from differentiated raw material to improved style and design. Five years ago, with participation in fairs and technical visits, foreign sales began.
Mabel Magalhães has always been in love with fashion. Every Friday she wanted to star a new dress. She participated in the high society of Minas and in amateur fashion shows. She was so involved in the fashion universe that she learnt how to sew, model, cut and produce, and she established her own brand in the late 1970s.
She was soon invited to participate in the Minas Fashion Group, respected throughout Brazil. As time and collections went by, Mabel won more and more clients in most Brazilian states and worldwide.
After she passed away, in 2004, stylists Daniel Corrêa and Cláudia Magalhães Baggio kept Mabel's work going, maintaining the concern for quality, perfect finishing, modern design and impeccable modeling.
Service
Mabel Magalhães
Site: www.mabelmagalhaes.com.br
Telephone: (+55 31) 3281.0646
Anba