Blossom PV strengthens luxury focus with Portuguese presence

Organised twice a year, in June and December, ahead of Première Vision Paris, Blossom Première Vision aims to meet the specific needs of pre-collections. Florence Rousson, managing director of the fashion division at GL Events, which owns Première Vision, explained to Portugal Têxtil that the aim is to create «a dedicated, more targeted event, with a specific and reduced offer», designed for luxury brands seeking sourcing solutions, innovation, fashion information and new partnerships.

The selection of exhibitors is one of the central elements of the concept. According to Florence Rousson, companies must apply and are assessed on criteria such as sustainability, positioning and their ability to work with high-end brands. «Today, there is a great deal of information available, but when you visit Blossom, you know that the selection and curation work has already been done», she stressed.

The fair maintains a strong European presence, complemented by a Japanese offer, and has now opened up to garment manufacturing in response to growing demand from brands for complete industrial solutions. «We know that brands are also looking for more garment manufacturing solutions. We are convinced that market needs are evolving. The idea was to broaden the fair’s offer to respond as effectively as possible to brands’ needs», said Florence Rousson.

Portuguese exhibitors give positive assessment

For Riopele, the fair primarily serves a strategic role in maintaining close relationships with key customers. «Local events such as this are a good opportunity to reconnect with our customers. It is an environment where they come prepared to hear about the collection, the inspiration and the latest developments», said Marta Pacheco, the company’s commercial director.

In a preview of the new autumn-winter 2027/2028 collection, which will begin to be marketed next month, the fabric manufacturer is strengthening its focus on natural fibres, such as wool and blends with linen, without abandoning its performance DNA, combining them with synthetic fibres to create more versatile fabrics suited to increasingly unstable weather conditions. «The main new development is the continuation of our strategy focused on sustainability and the introduction of natural fibres combined with synthetic fibres that provide the performance Riopele promises its customers», Marta Pacheco highlighted.

The company also presented finished garments, used to demonstrate possible fabric applications and to raise the profile of Riopele Fashion Solutions, the group’s business unit dedicated to finished garments, where «we are increasingly growing and gaining some market share, particularly in the French market», said Marta Pacheco.

Blossom’s European selection is particularly relevant to Riopele. The commercial director explained that the company stopped exhibiting at Première Vision Paris because it believes that being mixed with suppliers from regions subject to different rules creates unfair competition. Blossom, by contrast, «is a very exclusive fair and the suppliers present are not direct competitors. We do not think it is fair to be alongside suppliers that do not follow the same rules or make the same investments as we do», she stressed.

Brito Knitting took part in the fair for the first time and presented an autumn-winter 2027/2028 collection based on natural fibres and raw materials with a lower environmental impact. Paula Carneiro, from the company’s sales team, highlighted blends with wool, merino wool, Tencel, Tencel Luxe, organic cotton, post-consumer recycled polyester and Ecovero viscose. The aim, she explained, is to bring the collection closer to an offer that is «almost 100% sustainable», although she acknowledged that reaching that level in absolute terms is difficult.

For the knitwear company, Blossom offers clear advantages: the calendar, as it is the first fair of the season, its location in central Paris, the functionality of the venue and the presence of European exhibitors. On the very first morning, Brito Knitting recorded a steady flow of visitors «and some very interesting brands – customers who already work with us and also some new contacts», revealed Paula Carneiro.

In garment manufacturing, Barata Garcia also made its Blossom debut with the aim of attracting new customers and strengthening existing relationships, showcasing the company’s different production capabilities, including jersey t-shirts, fleeces, sweatshirts and hoodies. «We selected a little of everything to show what we can do. I think it is interesting for visitors, particularly on a first visit, to see a little of everything we produce», highlighted Inês Araújo, the company’s commercial manager, who works across different product ranges, from mid-market to luxury.

Adapting to the market

Barata Garcia’s investment, following participation in fairs such as Magic Las Vegas, Première Vision Montreal and Première Vision New York, comes against a backdrop of increased pressure on garment manufacturing. «At the moment, there is some decline, and it can be felt at every level. We need to see whether we can start reviving garment manufacturing», says the company’s commercial manager, who has been seeing increasingly smaller orders and demands for faster deliveries.

This trend is also recognised by Riopele. Marta Pacheco believes the market is moving towards shorter lead times and more fragmented orders, as brands seek to reduce stock, respond more quickly to the end consumer and limit their initial investment. «We will not be able to change the market, so we have to adapt», she acknowledged.

Florence Rousson believes this context reinforces the importance of B2B trade fairs, although she admits that the model is changing. For the managing director of GL Events’ fashion division, professional events will need to offer three fundamental benefits: efficient solutions, qualified information and inspiration – something Blossom introduced with the presentation, for the first time, of a trend forum. «Trade fairs will probably be different in the future, with less volume, more services and more information», she concluded.