One of the questions I most often get asked is: “Where can I find suppliers in Portugal to make my shoe products? I’ve looked everywhere!”
If you’re looking for suppliers to make your shoe brand in Portugal, you’re in the right place! Portugal is famous for its high-quality footwear industry, rich in craftsmanship and innovation. But where do you start your search? Several methods can be used to find suppliers for your footwear brand.
Let’s explore six effective methods, each with its pros and cons:
1. Ask Friends, Colleagues, and Other Acquaintances
This method is often one of the best because experience is the best teacher!
Advantages:
• Generally free
• Accessible – we all know someone who can help
• Good for getting direct introductions to material suppliers
• Can provide insights on material quality and supplier reliability
Disadvantages:
• Limited options
• Recommendations may be biased or outdated
2. Online Search
Fire up that laptop and start Googling!
Upsides:
• It’s cheap and easy
• You can learn a lot about footwear material options
• Many suppliers have websites where you can check their catalogs and contact them online
• Possibility to compare different materials options
Downsides:
• Limited to suppliers with a good online presence
• Information on websites can be vague or incomplete
• Difficult to assess material quality without physical samples
• Getting responses can be tough without a local agent
3. Visit Supplier Trade Shows in Portugal
Imagine hundreds of material suppliers all in one place – it’s like Disneyland for shoe enthusiasts! Most trade shows are great options to start gathering information and understand the industry.
Positives:
• You can see, touch, and compare hundreds of material options in one place
• Opportunity to discover innovative materials and trends
• Meet suppliers face-to-face and gauge their expertise
• Get material samples on the spot
• Conversations with exhibitors can lead to insights about material properties and applications
Negatives:
• Too many options (it can be overwhelming)
• Travel and accommodation costs
• Limited time to thoroughly evaluate each material
Want to know which trade shows are coming up in 2025? Check out my blog post HERE
4. Sourcing Agencies
Many startups and established brands use sourcing agencies to find the best material suppliers for their footwear. These agencies, also known as private label agencies or agents, are often small companies or independent professionals and can be found online.
Benefits:
• The agency will know the local culture and language (super important since many suppliers don’t speak English)
• They’ll find the best material supplier for your specific needs
• Having someone to call anytime (choose a good one!) and getting regular updates
• Saving a lot of time and money in the search and selection phase. Most agencies will make a pre-selection very quickly once they understand exactly what you want (this is the hard part)
Drawbacks:
• The price of your shoes might be a bit higher
• Less direct contact with the suppliers; some people feel that they are not in control
5. Travel to Portugal
Who doesn’t want an excuse to visit Portugal? Sometimes, traveling to the country where you want to source and produce your shoes on your own is a very interesting experience. However, for most of the new designers and experienced brands that I work with, it was not the best option.
Pros:
• Experience an amazing country (excellent food, wine, and beaches included!)
• Visit suppliers and see materials with your own eyes
• Get samples of materials to evaluate quality firsthand
• Understand very clearly the challenges you’ll face in sourcing
Cons:
• Travel costs (but hey, at least you get a mini-vacation)
• Requires careful sourcing planning (you can’t just wing it)
• Some meetings might be disappointing if you’re not crystal clear about what materials you need
• If you don’t find the materials you’re looking for during your 3 or 4-day visit, you’ll need to go home empty-handed
Alternatively if you can’t afford to come to Portugal at the moment, how about a VIRTUAL guided VISIT to SHOE MATERIAL SUPPLIERS in Portugal?
6. Download My 5-STAR SHOE MATERIAL SUPPLIERS in Portugal Shortlist
One of the best ways to find suppliers without spending a lot of time and money is by downloading my list of footwear material and components suppliers.
Get my personally curated list of top-notch suppliers in Portugal. We’re talking:
• High-quality leather and material suppliers
• Trusted shoe hardware providers
• Innovative heels and soles manufacturers
• Custom packaging solutions
Every business in this directory has been hand-picked by me to help you create amazing shoes in Portugal.
Remember, finding the right suppliers is like finding the perfect pair of shoes – it takes time, but when you get it right, it’s magic!
Now, go forth and create some fabulous footwear! And if you need any more advice, you know where to find me.