In the Sampa in Stampa kiosk in Shopping Center 3, just off Avenida Paulista, declarations of love for São Paulo are explicit. After all, the ‘I ♥ SP’ shirt is the shop’s best seller. But the T-shirt has a special meaning in São Paulo, according to Anneliese Lukine, the souvenir shop’s owner. ‘People are so used to hearing São Paulo being badmouthed that this T-shirt creates a positive reaction,’ she says.

While still working as a bus terminal administrator, Lukine noticed a shortage of souvenirs in the city, and so launched a business making tees. Today, the brand has products ranging from fridge magnets to decorative housewares. We love the huge umbrellas adorned with iconic city images, and the T-shirt featuring the Goddess of Plenty, an image that appears above the doors of the Mercado Municipal – the city’s fresh food market.

• Find more São Paulo T-Shirts at Vista São Paulo