The 32nd edition of INSPIRAMAIS, the leading trade show for materials launches for the footwear, apparel, furniture, automotive upholstery, decoration, and jewelry industries in Latin America, concluded with more than 150 exhibitors and US$8 million in international business. The event took place on July 15th and 16th at the Pro Magno Event Center in São Paulo/SP. The attendance of over 8,000 buyers and industry professionals was a record for all of its 30+ editions.
Walter Rodrigues, visionary designer and head of the Design and Research Center at Assintecal (the Brazilian Association of Companies for Components in Leather, Footwear and Artifacts), emphasized that INSPIRAMAIS is far more than a materials trade fair — it’s a cultural map outlining fashion’s direction. His research provides the foundation for each season’s launches, guided by the Product Development Pyramid, divided into 3 parts:
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10% Laboratory/ research, innovation with a purpose generates value.
Where innovation lives, for runway, art, and concept pieces. -
30%, strategy, planning/process generates assertiveness.
Reflects current trends, tuned to the global circuit of textures, colors, and silhouettes. -
60%, know-how, sureness generates price/competitiveness.
It is the engine of commercial viability—mass-market materials adapted from experimental ideas.
Rodrigues emphasized that these levels are not defined by price, but by purpose and pace.
10% Human: Designing Hope
Human, the central theme guiding this season’s curated materials at INSPIRAMAIS, embraces a philosophy of healing — expressed through tactile softness, pastel palettes, and emotionally resonant textures. Korean German philosopher Byung-Chul Han’s stark observation that “tragedy sells” inspired a counter-narrative rooted in resilience. As Walter Rodrigues explained in our interview, “We are fighting fear with committed hope.”
This wasn’t just an abstract concept — it was a strategic design response to a national trauma: devastating floods in Rio Grande do Sul that halted production and shattered communities. Rather than retreat, the fashion industry leaned into unity, crafting materials that offer comfort, connection, and care. Rodrigues described hope not as naïveté, but as a dynamic design mechanism — resistance against cultural fatigue. In an era dominated by doomscrolling, emotional fabrics become powerful tools: muted corals, powder blues, and softened textures serve as gentle reminders of safety and optimism.
The fair also drew inspiration from Ursula de Castro, whose words during political upheaval — “If each of us does one good thing a day, we can overcome waves of negativity” — shaped the ethos of micro-resistance behind this season’s collection. Every curated material was designed to uplift, to soothe, and to foster meaningful human connection.
This season’s 10% innovation tier placed hope front and center — offering the kind of emotional storytelling that designers need in times of tension. Whether it’s for a collection inspired by community resilience or a fashion show designed to inspire optimism, INSPIRAMAIS made clear: the next big trend isn’t a color or silhouette — it’s emotional relevance.
30% Burnout: Fashion’s Emotional Wake-Up Call
Rodrigues described BURN OUT as a collective state of tension and paralysis, triggered by the catastrophic floods in Rio Grande do Sul. The disaster not only disrupted production but exposed the fragility of the fashion ecosystem under pressure.
Burnout wasn’t just psychological — it was social, political, and industrial. It marked a moment when creativity stalled, and the industry had to confront its emotional limits. This led to a deeper investigation into how design could offer relief, reconnection, and resilience. The transition from Burnout to Human reflects a shift from crisis to care — a movement toward materials that soothe, colors that embrace, and textures that invite healing.
60% Peripherals: The Power of the Global South
Rodrigues also spoke passionately about the Peripherals—the creative explosion coming from the Global South. “We have fewer resources, but more color, more courage,” he said. INSPIRAMAIS embraces this vibrancy, showcasing artisanal techniques and street-level creativity from Brazil, Colombia, India, and China, and pushing back against Eurocentric standards of taste. Key characteristics of peripheral materials include: The use of dense, metallic tones with strong references to the 1980s, such as gold and silver finishes. A prominent presence of animal prints, applied across leather, synthetic laminates, and textiles. An emphasis on production speed and price competitiveness, without compromising creativity. A deliberate mix of synthetics, leathers, and fabrics to explore new material possibilities.
Streaming as Trend Incubator
One of the most striking insights from the conversation: the influence of streaming platforms as cultural engines. “Fashion must anticipate demand created by media,” Rodrigues said, referencing the upcoming Harry Potter reboot. Materials were already being prepared for fan merchandise, costumes, and retail collections. Designers were urged to stay alert to streaming trends as behavioral catalysts.
Turning Point: What’s Next
Looking ahead, Turning Point will be the theme of the next INSPIRAMAIS edition. Leather goods, for example, will explore two visual directions: Gaseous: watercolor effects, fluidity, and soft movement. Rupture: structured pieces with metallic finishes and textural breaks. Each serves as a metaphor for transformation—whether a whisper or a crack in the system.
INSPIRAMAIS is proof that fashion’s future isn’t just about form or function, but about feeling. Walter Rodrigues reminded me that creativity is not only reactive but redemptive. And in this corner of the Global South, hope isn’t just a theme—it’s a design strategy.
INSPIRAMAIS was organized by Assintecal in partnership with the Center for the Brazilian Tanning Industries (CICB), the Brazilian Association of the Textile and Apparel Industry (Abit), and the Brazilian Association of Furniture Industries (Abimóvel). It was produced by Brazilian Materials and partnered with Sebrae Nacional. The next edition of the event will take place on January 27 and 28, 2026, at the FIERGS Events Center, in Porto Alegre/RS.
Photos: Courtesy of Inspiramais
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