Latin America's textile industry seeks rebound

The information is encouraging for the South American country since China is the leading producer of textiles and Brazil is number six. Colombian businessmen have already begun taking steps to halt their dependency on the Venezuelan market, but it is expected that the process will be a long one.

Apparel industry leaders are attributing new importance to the domestic market, strengthening acceptance of local brands, by putting a lot of emphasis on design. “We believe that Mexico, Peru, the United States and Canada can be future markets, but it will take time to grow to the level of Venezuela.

The strength of the peso against the dollar has made our products more expensive in international markets. For that reason we must strive for with greater value added in specific niches. The internal market will be a factor of important growth,” InexModa said. With respect to how to compete with the Asian giant, Colombia is developing textile products with value added “since that is the only way to be distinguished from and to compete with China,” noted the apparel industry agency.

There are creators of fashion like Francesca Miranda, Beatriz Camacho, Olga Piedrahita and Juliana Correa, who transform textiles using their own techniques and design, generating unique fabrics, InexModa added.

In 2009 Brazil outlined a three-prong strategy in a 15-year plan to improve its performance in the sector.

One strategy involves launching innovative products to entice new consumers through design, texture and colors. Another is to encourage environmental preservation and thereby sustainability through such methods as natural dye usage and an increase in organic cotton cultivation.

The third strategy is to articulate and consolidate the concept of a “Brazilian lifestyle” by translating the joy and humor characteristic of Brazil into products. “One example of that was the development of Hawaiian sandals, from being a very popular, low-cost product, it became something of very high value. This was because an extra value was added, it succeeded in expressing a feeling that became associated with the product: the feeling of joy, typical of the Brazilian identity,” the general director of Texbrasil, Rafael Cervone Netto, said.

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