Peruvian fibers arouse great interest in New York

Peruvian alpaca and cotton captivate major brands!

After negotiating more than US$15.3 million in business deals, the participation of 22 companies of the “Perú Moda” delegation to New York drew to a close. Their success is due in large part to the admiration won by Peruvian alpaca and cotton fibers, reported the Peruvian Export and Tourism Promotion Board (PROMPERÚ).

The products were displayed as part of the Premiere Vision event, considered an important business platform for select products. The exhibit was supported by the Lima Chamber of Commerce and Peru’s Trade Offices Abroad in the US and Canada, and its aim was to position Peruvian clothing in the mid- and upper-mid segment of that market.

The Peruvian delegation showed off an attractive array of alpaca and cotton products, offering a “full package” service spanning everything from sourcing raw materials for manufacturing clothing to packaging.

The quality of the fabrics and the capacity of Peru’s textile industry give this production process an added value sought by international brands that want to manufacture their products in Peru, helping to create jobs in an industry that already employs more than 250,000 people.

Peru’s exhibit

The products most in demand at the event were cotton T-shirts, followed by alpaca sweaters and shirts. The trade show was also a chance to share the variety and quality of Peru’s fibers with up-and-coming designers from different countries.

The most well-known brands that approached Peruvian companies were Hudsons Bay Company, Brooks Brothers, Lands End, Lululemon and Dillards, among others.

While in New York, Perú Moda gave a seminar on “Benefits of the Peruvian Textile Cluster”, with the participation of representatives from John Varvatos, Mara Hoffman, Lenzing and Bonobos, companies that manufacture in Peru.

The country’s presentation also served as a platform for the international launch of the sector-specific brand “Perú Textiles”.

Clothing for export

In 2016, Peruvian textile industry exports totaled US$1.196 billion, 51% of which went to the United States. The leading products were T-shirts, knitted cotton shirts and baby clothes, as well as alpaca garments and accessories.