Textile producers at German fair

Portuguese textile companies were back in force last week looking to pick up clients at the German textile fair Munich Fabric Start.

Munich Fabric Start is one of Europe’s most important textile trade fairs which runs twice a year presenting a quality portfolio of international fabrics and accessories with manufacturers showcasing their newest fabric developments and innovations.
The fair, which ended on Thursday “exceeded expectations” according to the cluster of Portuguese textile manufacturers who attended the event.
In all 31 Portuguese firms attended the fair to showcase the best fabrics that Portugal makes and to show off some of the latest trends with sustainability being the order of the week.
In this respect the Portuguese manufacturers presented recycled fabrics, sustainable production methods, and even pieces of clothing with dyes based on food waste such as coffee and berries.
The event, in its 45th edition, boasted 1,000 exhibitors and 20,000 visitors, most of the visitors from Germany.
Among the companies at the fair was Porto-based Calvelex (CEO César Araújo pictured) which has been making fabrics for 30 years and employs 700 skilled workers producing 1 million pieces at its three latest-generation technology factories.
Another company and one of the oldest textile producers in Portugal was Riopele, founded in 1927 and based in Vila Nova de Famalicão, with Germany representing its third biggest export market. The company employs 1,100 staff with 30% of all of its textiles going to Germany.
According to data from the Portuguese National Statistics Institute (INE) Portugal exported orders worth €142 million to Germany in H1 of 2021, a growth of 17.4% on the same period in 2020 and an increase of 9% on H1 in 2019.