US-based men’s, ladies' and children’s athletic and casual footwear producer Skechers recently held a party in São Paulo to mark the official launch of the company, and its Skechers, Ecko and Zoo York brands, in the Brazilian market.

The company will produce some of the ladies’ collections at a new factory in Rio Grande do Sul, and plans to further expand production in the Latin American country in the future.

Commenting on the move, Luis Alfredo Maia, general manager of Skechers Brazil and Argentina, said, “Skechers comes to Brazil with big plans and is betting on this market. We shall work on the same concept as we do in the United States focusing on the young casual market. In the beginning, we will be launching 120 different styles as well as styles from the Ecko and Zoo York ranges.” He added, "We will start production in Brazil little by little. First, we will develop some of the styles in the ladies' range; however, our objective is to expand our production further.”