The 31st edition of INSPIRAMAIS, a trade show that launched over a thousand innovative materials for the footwear, apparel, upholstery, furniture, and jewelry industries between January 21st and 22nd, is expected to generate more than R$ 44.5 million. The event took place at the FIERGS Events Center in Porto Alegre/RS and stood out for the versatility of the materials presented by its more than 150 exhibitors.

According to Silvana Dilly, the superintendent of the Brazilian Association of Companies of Components for Leather, Footwear, and Artifacts (Assintecal), INSPIRAMAIS showcased the recovery of the fashion production chain, which had been affected by the floods that hit Rio Grande do Sul last May. “The versatility of materials as a tool for competitiveness has been helping the sector in this recovery. Today, we have materials here that serve everything from the pet market to the footwear market, an endless number of possibilities,” she assessed.

The automotive upholstery sector, participating in the fashion trade show for the first time, generated significant business in both the domestic and international markets. Rafael Bonvicine, the Marketing and Relationship Manager at Cipatex (Cerquilho/SP), highlighted that the strategy of bringing the growing automotive sector into the show was a success. “We had a very good edition, especially concerning the qualified visitation. We closed deals right here at the show with buyers from the automotive segment in Brazil and Latin America,” he commented. During the two-day event, the company exhibited a completely restored Volkswagen Beetle and a motorcycle using materials it developed, which attracted visitors’ attention and demonstrated the products’ real-world application. “Currently, the automotive sector represents between 15% and 18% of the company’s revenue, a share we want to increase. Last year, it was the fastest-growing sector among the 20 segments we serve. The increase reached 38% in revenue compared to 2023. For 2025, the expectation is to grow another 20% in revenue,” he projected.

Promising Debut

For its first time at INSPIRAMAIS, Martine Digital (Caxias do Sul/RS) had a promising debut. According to the company’s director, Fernando Scopel, they made contact with buyers from both the national and international markets. After being on the market for a year, Martine Digital, which produces labels for the apparel and footwear segments, plans to expand its business internationally based on the contacts generated at INSPIRAMAIS. “Our expectations were exceeded; we have business opportunities lined up with potential clients in Colombia, whom we will meet at the IFLS fair in that country,” he said. The company’s biggest highlight, which also won the Primus Award in the Innovation category, was a label with an NFC chip (contactless) that allows brands to create content in links that can be updated. “It’s a great marketing tool that has attracted a lot of attention from both the national and international markets,” he concluded.

Buyer Project

This edition of INSPIRAMAIS featured the Buyer Project, held within the scope of Brazilian Footwear, a program to support the export of components promoted by Assintecal in partnership with the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil). Through this project, 23 international groups from Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, and Paraguay came to Brazil. The business generated, including both finalized and potential deals with exhibitors, exceeded US$ 7.5 million (R$ 44.5 million).