We know that Brás is one of the best places in the city of São Paulo to get “cheap jeans”. But if you have time to travel, it’s also worth visiting Urupês, the famous “Capital of Jeans”! The city is 430 kilometers from the capital and is a must for those who want to renew their wardrobe without weighing down their pockets – and still enjoy the peaceful countryside climate.
After all, the town of 15,000 inhabitants stands out as a hub for jeans production in Brazil, with factories for several national brands. If you’re fashion-savvy, check out the best reasons to put Urupês on your itinerary!
Why is Urupês the “Capital of Jeans”?
The first garment factory opened in the city in 1985 and served as a seed for the large market that was to emerge. After forty years, Urupês has around 70 jeans factories that directly employ 3,000 people, which represents almost 60% of the city’s formal jobs.
According to the town hall, the factories produce up to 1 million garments a month, which supply national brands and occupy shop windows in various states of Brazil. It’s such a strong market that the municipality offers free training courses in dressmaking for citizens who want to join the industry.
What to do in town (apart from shopping!)
One of the great attractions of Urupês is shopping tourism, of course. Several factory stores guarantee unbeatable prices for those who want to buy their jeans straight from the source, but don’t be fooled. There’s plenty more to do there!
Lagoa de Urupês, for example, is the perfect place to go for a walk or a picnic, or simply to enjoy the peace of the countryside! Catholics, meanwhile, can visit the Igreja Matriz de São Lourenço, which, in addition to beautiful stained glass windows, houses a relic of the saint it is named after – a bone fragment brought directly from Rome.
