8148
Number of companies in the textile, clothing, footwear, and leather goods sectors in Portugal, around 90% of which are concentrated in the northern region.
Within a 50-square-kilometer radius of the city of Porto — in cities like Barcelos, Famalicão, Guimarães, Felgueiras, Oliveira de Azeméis, Santa Maria da Feira, and São João da Madeira — you can find one of the strongest fashion clusters in Europe.
157K
The number of active workers in Portugal’s fashion industry.
There is strong expertise in the textile, clothing, footwear, and leather goods sectors in Portugal, the result of know–how built over generations.
A significant number of these workers studied at the country’s two major training centers: CFPIC in São João da Madeira and Modatex in Porto.
7M
Annual export value of the Portuguese fashion industry.
The textile, clothing, footwear, and leather goods sectors in Portugal are highly export–oriented, selling their products in virtually every part of the world.
Specifically in the footwear sector, 90% of production is exported annually to 170 countries across all continents.
250M
The amount invested by these sectors in areas such as automation, robotics, and sustainability in recent years.
With support from the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), the Portuguese fashion industry is currently undergoing the largest investment in its history, aiming to secure a competitive position on the international stage.
These sectors have gained new capabilities and have become faster, more flexible, and better equipped to support new international projects, positioning themselves as a benchmark in sustainable development and solutions.
Photo: Carmo Amorim
Shoes: JJ Heitor