A major initiative will present Portugal's manufacturing model combining sustainability and innovation during New York Fashion Week.
Portuguese fashion industry to take centre stage at United Nations showcase
Article by:
PUBLISHED:
The Portuguese fashion industry is set to feature prominently at the United Nations headquarters in New York on 10 September. Representatives from the “Made to Matter: Portugal” initiative will showcase the sector’s capabilities during a special event scheduled alongside the annual meeting of the UN Fashion and Lifestyle Network and New York Fashion Week. According to a trade media report, The presentation aims to highlight an industrial model that successfully unites traditional expertise with innovation, collaboration, quality, and ecological responsibility.
Comprising more than 6,000 businesses, the sector generates exports exceeding €7 billion annually. This makes it one of the country’s primary export sectors and a highly internationalised component of Portuguese manufacturing. Over the past three years, the Portuguese fashion industry has secured upwards of €200 million in funding. This substantial investment is backed by the Portuguese Recovery and Resilience Plan and delivered through key national initiatives, specifically the Lusitano and BioShoes4All projects.
César Araújo, who presides over the executive committee of the Lusitano Project consortium, emphasised that manufacturing in Europe, particularly within Portugal, represents a highly competitive, responsible, and forward-looking option for global partners.
Strengthening the Portuguese fashion industry for a sustainable future
The Lusitano agenda is designed to drive the reindustrialisation of the textile and clothing sectors through focused research, technological development, and internationalisation. It supports the production of high-value textile goods, including yarns manufactured from recycled and natural fibres. Luís Onofre – president of an association representing the Portuguese footwear, leather goods, and components industry – noted that traditional craftsmanship and modern innovation work in harmony across the sector, with long-established firms leading advancements in automation and sustainable materials.
[See more: Global luxury brands lean on local strategy to tap into China’s youth market]
Furthermore, the BioShoes4All project is working to position the nation’s footwear sector as an international leader in sustainable development. Carlos Moura, the head of the New York office of Portugal’s official trade promotion agency, remarked that Portugal is actively shaping the future of fashion rather than merely following trends. He identified the United States as a vital strategic market where Portugal’s technological capabilities can be leveraged to secure competitive advantages.
This high-profile delegation at the United Nations is intended to boost the international standing of the Portuguese fashion industry by presenting its commitment to quality and responsible production to global investors, policymakers, and industry figures.
