Brazilian apparel firm Ponto Trancado has built on the success of its initial foray into Arab markets by expanding its operations to include Bahrain.

Ponto Trancado has started exporting its eye-catching handmade fashions to Bahrain and the UAE after fledgling deals in Kuwait and Lebanon were well received. The company made contact with associates
in Bahrain at the CPD fashion trade fair in Dusseldorf, Germany, at the beginning of this year, and now its brightly coloured designs are being sold in Bahraini outlets.

The company has seen significant expansion since its inception in the mid 1990s. As well as its growing presence in Arab markets it has also struck significant deals in European territories and the USA. About 40% of the output at Ponto Trancado’s factory in the Brazilian state of Goias is exported, according to the firm’s
management. The firm produces between 1,000 and 2,000 pieces a month, with each design produced in small quantities to increase exclusivity.

Bahrain’s shopping malls attract shoppers throughout the year, including high-value spenders from Saudi Arabia, and the high-end stores operating in the kingdom now form a central plank in the country’s strategy
to increase tourist numbers. High-profile construction projects in the country, such as the Bahrain Financial Harbour and the World Trade Centre, have set aside substantial floor space to be filled by retail projects.
More shopping malls are under construction.