What if brands could develop an entire collection with a single partner?

As brands face increasing pressure to shorten time to market and respond more quickly to changing consumer demand, more companies are choosing to consolidate product development and manufacturing with a single partner.

With this goal in mind, Riopele established Riopele Fashion Solutions (RFS) in 2002, a business unit dedicated to garment development and manufacturing. Fully integrated within Riopele's industrial ecosystem, RFS manages the entire process — from fabric to finished garment — bringing textile development and garment production together under one roof.

For brands, this means a simpler supply chain, fewer points of contact and greater predictability throughout the collection development process.

Speed as a competitive advantage

"At RFS, we develop prototypes within two to three weeks and, once the raw materials arrive, production takes between four and five weeks. We also respond to quotation requests within an average of 48 hours," says Daniela Carvalho, General Manager of Riopele Fashion Solutions.

According to Daniela Carvalho, this responsiveness enables brands to make faster decisions, test new products more frequently and react more quickly to market demands.

With extensive experience in both menswear and womenswear, RFS develops collections for the mid-to-high and premium segments, including blazers, coats, trench coats, dresses, trousers, skirts, shirts, blouses, tops and shorts.

The value of Portuguese manufacturing

As global supply chains become increasingly complex, nearshoring continues to gain importance. Manufacturing in Portugal offers brands access to specialised technical expertise, high-quality standards and greater agility.

At RFS, these advantages are further strengthened through its integration with Riopele. Textile development and garment manufacturing teams work side by side from the earliest stages of each project, streamlining the process and making collection development more efficient for brands.

Riopele Fashion Solutions at a glance

Prototype development: 2–3 weeks
Production lead time: 4–5 weeks after raw material arrival
Average quotation response time: 48 hours
Minimum order quantity (MOQ): 150 pieces per style
Monthly production capacity: 15,000–20,000 garments