APICCAPS, in partneship with ANIVEC and AORP, have made the debut of fashion and designer footwear brands as part of a special “Made in Portugal” initiative during the footwear trade event PROJECT Sole, in New York.

APICCAPS and Anivec have unveiled a show-stopping installation highlighting the Portuguese footwear, apparel and accessories brands providing retailers and buyers a visual snapshot of the country’s best contemporary brands.

Footwear brands included Brusque, Carlos Santos, Cloud Footwear, COM - Creation Of Minds, Coxx-Borba, Dromedaris, Felmini, Flex & Go, Fly London, Lemon Jelly, Mocc’s and Boat Dock’s, apparel from, Daily Day, Frenken, Vandoma, Westmister, Inimigo, Qvinto and jewelry from Galeiras, Monseo and Eleutério.

The organizations have joined forces in order to promote Portugal’s quality craftsmanship and efficient manufacturing. “We believe Portuguese footwear exports to the US – which in 2017 have reached 70 million euros – can double in the coming years. Our idea is to make a global presentation of the Portuguese footwear. We’re sure that when the American customers discover the quality of the Portuguese footwear they won’t trade it for anything else,” states Luís Onofre, designer and President of APICCAPS.

PROJECT Sole kicked off the partnership during the July Marketplace, which took place from July 22nd to July 24th in the Jacob Javits Center and was followed by a robust showcase at FN PLATFORM, during MAGIC Las Vegas, where nearly 20 men’s and women’s Portuguese footwear brands have presented their SS19 collections, most for the first time.

“We have been working with APICCAPS to get the factories and brands ready to do business with USA brands and retailers. With all of the chatter regarding tariffs, now might be the right time for retailers and brands to look at Portugal for production and product,” shares Leslie Gallin, President Footwear, UBM Fashion.

In celebration of the partnership, Portuguese commerce organizations, APICCAPS and Portuguese Apparel Association have joined forces in the PROJECT Sole, alongside the FDRA, to make the event at The Standard Hotel happen. The event has promoted a Design Showcase, presenting the best of the Portuguese footwear, clothing and jewelry.