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Cristina Gonçalves joined Riopele just over two decades ago. During this time, she closely followed the company's ‘commitment to innovation, improving conditions, sustainability, and its people’, which has positioned Riopele as ‘one of the top textile companies in Portugal and Europe.’
She emphasises that ‘all fabrics manufactured at Riopele are meant for garment production.’ For this reason, ‘one of the main benefits of RFS lies in supporting the technical area of Riopele by testing fabrics, analysing their behaviour in garments, and ensuring they are suitable for specific designs.’ Additionally, ‘it provides clients with a full package service, freeing the client from the entire process, from fabric purchase and product development to accessory procurement, production, quality control, and shipping.’
1. Do you still remember your first day at Riopele?
Yes, it was back in September 2003 when I first joined Riopele. I still remember feeling incredibly proud to become part of one of the top textile companies in both Portugal and Europe. Riopele's reputation was impressive, and stepping into this role was a significant leap forward in my career progression and a huge professional challenge for me.
2. How has the company evolved over this period?
Over the years, Riopele has been consistently evolving to keep up with the textile market, staying in tune with fashion trends and industry developments. The company's commitment to innovation, improving conditions, sustainability has always been a key focus for the company.
3. From your perspective, how has the RFS department at Riopele evolved?
Like a younger sibling, the RFS department has been nurtured to foster its growth. Despite market fluctuations and external factors like the pandemic posing challenges, there has always been a strong desire for growth and adaptation in this demanding sector.
4. As Riopele is primarily focused on fabric production, what's the benefit of having a garment production unit?
It's important to remember that all fabrics manufactured at Riopele are meant for garment production. So, one of the main benefits of RFS lies in supporting the technical area of Riopele by testing fabrics, analysing their behaviour in garments, and ensuring they are suitable for specific designs. The second advantage is that it provides clients with a full package service, freeing the client from the entire process, from fabric purchase and product development to accessory procurement, production, quality control, and shipping.
5. What requirements must Riopele meet to be competitive in this segment?
Our focus, just like Riopele's, is a strong commitment to sustainability and proximity. Every day, we strive to uphold the company's values and aim to transform clients into business partners. It's crucial for us to be present for our clients on a daily basis, understanding their needs and providing suitable solutions.
6. You specialise in the French market. What are the specificities of this market?
It's a market where you can find all types of products, but we focus exclusively on the medium to high-end segment. We believe this is where we can truly showcase our strengths in quality, sustainability, innovation, and certification. It's a very aggressive market in terms of pricing due to intense internal and external competition, making success challenging at times. However, over the years, we've earned undeniable recognition for our quality, support, responsiveness, and friendly approach. While we still have many goals to achieve, we're committed to the fight. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank my colleagues for their support every step of the way.
