Portugal Fashion Retrospective

As a small country (but not small in fashion and shoes production) we do have a small fashion week compared with the New York 10 days!  

During 4 days although, in a XIX century building, Alfândega (those times it was called Alfândega Nova, replacing the old one)  we can bring the metaphor of the building to the portuguese fashion scene.

At Portugal Fashion, ABSTART, the old met the new for next season SS14. Collections oriented to the future and with eyes kept in the past. Portuguese designers, design students, retail brands and manufacturers shown what they do best, create dreams for those who want to wear them! The shoe industry was no exception.

Magnificent collaborations between up-raising and promising designers and old school manufacturers gave birth to daring, surprising and desirable pairs of shoes. Elisabeth Teixeira and Hugo Costa are examples of that. Shoe industry supported them with a strong and consolidated experience.

The industry, that also has it’s own labels (DKODE and Goldmud) continues to support the already installed fashion designers. The pace as not slowed down for Aleksandar Protic and DKODE and Alexandra Moura + Goldmud. The partnerships were consolidated, perfected, detailed and postponed for future collections.

From the urban, feminine shapes of Protic wedges and flats, to the androgynous pool slippers, oxfords, and original prismatic heels , organic and clean designed by Alexandra Moura and manufactured perfectly by Goldmud. (click the links for videos) .Luis Buchinho continued the partnership he developed FW13 with the Royal Family approved Helsar. and his minimal, line inspired gladiator sandals, heeled, up to the knees or down to the ankles. 

The designers themselves, as Miguel Vieira, Alves Gonçalves, Carlos Gil, also presented creations manufactured by Portuguese hands. Silvia Rebatto as also proved some evolution from last seasons, showing a more mature and daring collection. This proves a self sustained manufacturing industry that only needs the attention of the world, because more than a country name (like Italy has the made in Italy), the industry has a country know how, handmade tradition and technological innovation, from a multicultural country that centuries ago expanded the worlds borders and gave sense to the globalization concept. 

The experienced brands Fly London and J.Reinaldo fulfill the expression of an experienced industry producing man and women shoes, with high quality and solid design. With stores all around the world and a faithful legion of fans, Fly surprised with stair shaped wooden wedges, somewhere between a wedge and a solid heel. Cool!

At the end, the land of luxury shoes for women continues rising and rising, step by step, by the hands of Luis Onofre and his close team. He continues a declared style, consistent, safe, full of glitter, glamour, perfect for red carpet situations. The collection with candy colors, high heels, lower platforms, detailed slippers, impresses graphically although it follows the designer signature. The one’s who know the brand know that those pairs are Onofre’s! And is yet to come another one in the Portuguese scene who can make luxury shoes like Onofre. They tried, but not achieved (yet). 

So the challenge is launched for next season. The sexiest industry on Europe challenged us in the pursuit of perfection. We Trend For Shoes, for the one’s who really use shoes as a statement. And you, who really love street style, luxury, chic, hippster, dandy, sartorial, you can be sure: Portuguese has them all.