The new Portuguese fashion week is being presented as a “beta” version since it is still in development, with the first weekend for ModaLisboa in Lisbon and the next weekend for Portugal Fashion in Porto, according to Adelino Costa Matos, the head of the National Association of Young Entrepreneurs (ANJE), the organising entity of Portugal Fashion.

“The future perspective is that there is a national fashion week that has events in Porto and in Lisbon plus joint events during the week to make it a Portuguese fashion week and not two separate somehow unsynchronised events”, added Adelino Costa Matos.

In the protocol signed on Tuesday between the head of ANJE and the head of ModaLisboa, Eduarda Abbondanza, the aim is for the associations’ stylists’ to coordinate, event organisation and other activities, to “create scale”, “critical mass” and “create value”, although some measures are still being discussed, making it a developing project.

“These are two associations that have been in some way separated for 20 years and that now have a clear intention to work together and this first version will be a great opportunity to work and realise with areas we are stronger in and create more value working together”, Adelino Costa Matos highlighted.

Portugal’s prime minister António Costa congratulated ModaLisbon and Portugal Fashion for being able to sign a cooperation protocol for the national and international promotion of Portuguese fashion after two decades of working individually, reminding them that it is very important for the country, particularly to leverage Portuguese exports until 2030 to 50% of Gross Domestic Product.