The 37th edition of the Couromoda, which begins this Monday, January 18, at the Anhembi, in São Paulo, ending on Thursday. is the largest shoe, sports article and fashion accessory sector fair in Brazil. The event will be getting buyers from 70 countries.
The fair, to cover over 80,000 square meters (861,000 square feet), will have 1,000 exhibitors, representing 90% of Brazilian production.
Apart from international buyers, the event should also include large retail chains, like Galeries Lafayette and Magazine Printemps, both from France; Helen Marlen, from the Ukraine; Bata Shoe Group, from Canada; and Grupo Liverpool, from Mexico, among others.
Brazilian shoes are present on five continents. Figures disclosed by the Brazilian Association of Shoe Manufacturers (Abicalçados) show that last year, shoes from Brazil were shipped to 140 countries. Exports totaled US$ 1.36 billion, reduction of 27.7% over 2008. In terms of volume, shipments reached 126.6 million pairs, retraction of 23.7%.
The United States were the main market for Brazilian shoes, with imports of US$ 351.4 million, followed by the United Kingdom, with US$ 179.4 million and Argentina, with US$ 142.4 million.
At Couromoda, Brazilian companies are going to present the novelties for the 2010 Autumn/Winter collection. Boots, high-heeled shoes, sandals and handbags received new forms and colors.
Among the releases at the fair, the Confederation of Brazilian Hides and Skins Industries (CICB) should present a global campaign for appreciation of the Brazilian product. The organization should show the advantages and differences of the use of leather as a raw material, one that is healthy, renewable and has many applications.
Another highlight of the event is the addition of three Brazilian brands to the fair: Carmim, Ellus and Cavalera. According to the Couromoda director general, Jeferson Santos, sales of shoes and accessories of fashion/confection brands currently represent around 40% of company revenues, making the shoe sector much more attractive to these brands.
