Getting one Brazilian brand in front of U.S. buyers is already a challenge.
Bringing eleven brands into the same room, at the same trade show, as part of one international mission is something different.
That happened at COTERIE New York this season, where a delegation of brands from Rio de Janeiro presented their collections to the U.S. market through a mission organized by SEBRAE Rio de Janeiro.
The goal went beyond simply exhibiting product.
For these companies, New York became a place to test positioning, understand the market, meet buyers and begin building relationships that could support international expansion.
What SEBRAE Is Building
International expansion rarely starts with a purchase order.
Before a brand sells abroad, it has to understand pricing, positioning, distribution, logistics, buyer expectations and how its identity translates into a different market.
That is where initiatives like the SEBRAE Rio de Janeiro mission come in.
By bringing eleven companies to COTERIE together, the program created a shared entry point into the U.S. fashion ecosystem — giving the brands an opportunity to present their work, learn from the market and build connections on the ground.
And COTERIE provides exactly the kind of environment where that conversation can begin: buyers, brands, retailers and industry professionals moving through the same floor.
The Brands in the Room
Cailla
Womenswear inspired by Rio’s bohemian spirit, with authorial prints and a light, mystical interpretation of carioca style.
Jungle Society
High-end swimwear built around a bold and free expression of beach culture — “your wild self,” in the brand’s own words.
Malu Sanffer
A womenswear brand based in Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro.
Meggy
Handcrafted handbags made in Rio using genuine leather.
Constantinopla
Brazilian spirit, modern ease and contemporary womenswear.
Akera
Women’s sportswear bringing together design, movement and purpose.
EMI
Womenswear featuring handmade and exclusive prints.
ANPÔ
Watercolor prints that tell stories, developed on sustainable fabrics.
Izabella Aurora
A Rio-based accessories brand positioned around Brazilian luxury.
WAIWAI Rio
A brand deeply rooted in Rio and Brazilian culture, drawing from tropical identity, craftsmanship and the energy of carioca life.
NUNI
Timeless accessories from Rio de Janeiro.
Why This Matters Beyond One Trade Show
One trade show does not create an export market.
But it can create the first conversation.
It can put a product in front of the right buyer. It can reveal whether a price point works. It can show how a brand story translates outside its home market. And it can begin relationships that only become valuable months later.
That is what makes a delegation like this interesting.
The story is not simply that eleven Brazilian brands came to New York.
It is that they came together, with a structured effort behind them, to understand what it takes to move from a strong domestic identity toward an international business.
For Brazilian fashion, that distinction matters.
What’s Next
Fashinnovation was in the room at COTERIE this season, meeting the delegation and seeing the brands firsthand.
And we’ll be following what happens next.
Because international expansion is rarely about one event.
It is about what happens after the introduction, after the trade show and after the first conversation.
That is where relationships turn into opportunities — and where brands begin proving whether they can travel.
