BF Talks: Brands That Have Conquered the World's Feet

2025-02-26 | By Brazilian Footwear

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If asked to name a Brazilian footwear brand, you’d likely have an answer. Present in over 162 countries, the largest footwear industry in the Western Hemisphere is also internationally recognized for its brands that have captured the feet of people worldwide. In the BF Talks series, three of these brands share their stories and the journey behind their success. Watch the first episode below, which focuses on own-brand strategy and features the cases of Democrata, Grendene, and Carrano.

The episode includes contributions from Democrata’s Export Manager, Anderson Melo, Grendene’s Export Director, Alexandre Gastaldello, and Carrano’s Export Manager, Fernando Galhego. Creativity, innovation, and trends are some of the key points they discuss. "You're selling your brand, your identity. Translating that into technology and design is crucial for longevity," Melo remarks.

The importance of branding was also highlighted. “We draw on icons from our culture to infuse creativity into the products we make, creating brand positioning that makes our brands both beloved and in demand,” emphasizes Gastaldello.

The success of this work also stems from the trust and tradition of Brazil's footwear industry. "We had the opportunity to step outside Brazil, to sell to brands in other countries. We believe in Brazilian shoes," Galhego concludes.

BF Talks

Featuring leaders from footwear brands, buyers, and international opinion leaders, BF Talks is a series that explores six key themes and characteristics of the biggest footwear industry in the West. Each episode features different guests who share insights on topics such as own-brand strategy, private label, design, sustainability and ESG, social impact, and opportunities in Latin America—the latter was exclusively discussed with international guests.