When Fashion Heals: Creativity and Wellness from Brazil

In a world shaken by social, emotional, and climate crises, fashion emerges as a language of hope and healing. This was evident at the 32nd edition of INSPIRAMAIS, Latin America’s leading trade show for material innovations in footwear, apparel, home design, automotive upholstery, jewelry, and more. Held on July 15–16, 2025, at Pro Magno Events Center in São Paulo, Brazil, the event delivered a wealth of inspiration rooted in emotional and creative intelligence.

This edition was guided—as always—by the Product Development Pyramid methodology, exploring three themes that reflect the emotional and social pulse of our times: Human, Burnout, and Peripherals.

• Human, the central theme, invites us to reconnect with hope amidst chaos. Inspired by philosopher Byung-Chul Han, it introduces soft materials, soothing colors, and comforting textures as an antidote to overwhelming negativity and sensory overload.
• Burnout, explored in past editions, expresses the collective exhaustion—emotional, political, and environmental—that impacts individuals and industries alike. From this lens, fashion becomes a shelter, a form of aesthetic resistance and relief.
• Peripherals champions creativity from the Global South. This theme celebrates cultural diversity, color, and joy from non-central regions, challenging Eurocentric norms and positioning Latin America as a powerhouse of innovation and vitality.

More than a thousand products inspired by the “Human” concept were presented. They focused on tactility, emotional resonance, and community, with textures and palettes designed to soothe and uplift. Guided by designer Walter Rodrigues, the event embraced a mission: to elevate the Global South as a wellspring of sustainable and soulful solutions—designs that dress the body while embracing the spirit.

FASHION AS THERAPY

“Fashion is healing. Clothing is healing,” says Walter Rodrigues, Coordinator of the Design and Research Center at Assintecal (Brazilian Association of Leather, Footwear and Goods Components Companies). Amidst global turmoil and uncertainty, he believes fashion can be an emotional anchor—a way to reconnect with ourselves. “When you’re sad and put on your favorite garment, your mood shifts. Your energy shifts. Fashion can heal.”

With this deeply human perspective, Walter sees the act of dressing as a personal and collective tool for hope—not merely aesthetic, but emotionally transformative.

SUSTAINABILITY AS STANDARD, NOT EXCEPTION

INSPIRAMAIS showcased remarkable strides in sustainable materials. Walter envisions a future where sustainability is so inherent it no longer requires differentiation. “I dream of a day when all materials are sustainable by default. In Latin America, we have forests the world no longer has. Our responsibility is enormous.”

For brands rooted in Latin American values, this commitment to circularity, research, and natural resources is becoming a core virtue, not just a trend.

CREATIVITY FROM THE MARGINS

Walter champions the Global South’s creative energy. “We’re more joyful, more colorful, more alive. In countries like Colombia, Brazil, India, or China, similar behaviors emerge—movement, dance, color… That’s how we design from the margins.”

This diversity, he believes, is a strength worth celebrating. The event fostered visual narratives grounded in local identity and transformative potential—proof that innovation thrives beyond dominant cultural centers.

RESILIENCE THROUGH FASHION

One of the most moving moments came with the participation of brands from Southern Brazil—regions recently affected by floods. “They are heroes,” Walter says. “They overcame immense challenges and showed up with strength, hope, and vitality.”

In this context, fashion becomes a symbol of community resilience, where each collection tells a story of recovery and togetherness.

WELLNESS IN TEXTILES AND DESIGN

Walter highlighted the potential of knitted fabrics developed in Brazil since the ’90s. “We now have knit textiles used in footwear, furniture, and clothing, made with yarns instead of leather. It’s a market rich in talent and creativity—ideal for wellness-driven brands focused on yoga, comfort, and activewear.”

DESIGN WITH PURPOSE: THE ROLE OF THE CREATIVE COMMUNITY

Walter calls for a deeper alignment between designers, businesses, and consumers. In a saturated global market, the true differentiator lies in values—timeless, sustainable, and conscious pieces. He believes retailers must partner with designers to democratize access to meaningful fashion without sacrificing well-being or ethics.

This is a call for ethical co-creation—where the creative community doesn’t just design what we see, but what we feel, and what transforms.

WHEN FASHION HEALS

Walter invites us to reimagine design as a transformative act, capable of healing—from the individual to the collective. When fashion heals is more than a phrase—it’s a mindful approach that recognizes the power of soft textures, soulful color palettes, and sustainability as a form of emotional well-being.

INSPIRAMAIS offers a new vision of dressing—not just the body, but the soul. Rooted in humanity, responding to burnout with creativity, and elevating the voices of the Global South with pride and passion. This São Paulo edition reminds us: the Global South doesn’t just bring ideas—it brings solutions, care, and resilience.

Because if fashion can carry emotion, protect what we love, and tell stories that inspire—then it can also heal. And that is worth celebrating.