Portugal, re-thinking fashion
Every six months we travel to Porto Fashion Week to take the pulse of its sustainable dreams. Our date is at Modtissimo, the most important textile and fashion event in Portugal. This time, we were surprised by the sustainable commitment showcased by the show. Welcome to the Green Circle!
Story Tailors designed a jigsaw coat (with numbered parts that you can build by yourself) made by this unique portuguese wool, called Burel. Made of 100% bio sheeps wool, Burel have extraordinaries smart functionalities.
Alexandra Moura made a special trench-coat with hand made details full of surprises. The reason is this Cotton/Cork yarn made by Texteis Penedo with powder cork wastes, increasing the fabric resistance to microorganisms, in addition to decoration, and recovering a natural raw material (cork) that otherwise would not be valued.
Nuno Baltazar designed a demi-couture dress made by Tenowa from Riopele. A fabric made of wastes generated from the textile industry. Virgin raw materials, water and energy are saved upon. Tenowa means circular economy by recycling and reusing textile leftovers.
Alves/Gonçalves made a romantic dress-shirt of Demi, a sustainable fabric developed by Somelos. It is a blend of long staple cotton with Rose Fiber (a viscose extracted from roses) characterized by its luxurious feel and drape, giving a silky and shiny appearance.
TAP’s Upcycling competition
Green Circle was not the only sustainable scenario of the fair. At the end of day two, Modtissimo closed its doors with TAP’s Upcycling competition, in which young designers were challenged to create new garments using the belts and fabrics from old airplane seats. Tatiana Ribeiro, an ESAD student, was the winner, presenting a multifunctional vest that can be turned into a backpack.
How creative can the sustainable side of fashion be! It is really interesting, yes! But, fashion may include a business model and it has to be commercial. And it is already! Some Portuguese sustainable fashion Brands and Designers are already selling their collections Worldwide. They produce locally and nurture the traditional artisanal techniques and craftsmanship of their native country. Most of them are also adding ecological fabrics to their collections. Misci, Hibu, Reality Studio, Coraçao Alecrim, Marita Moreno, Toino Abel, Pé de Chumbo, Katty Xiomara, Roselyn Silva or Nazareth Collection are some of them. And they are doing it great!
Story Tailors designed a jigsaw coat (with numbered parts that you can build by yourself) made by this unique portuguese wool, called Burel. Made of 100% bio sheeps wool, Burel have extraordinaries smart functionalities.
Alexandra Moura made a special trench-coat with hand made details full of surprises. The reason is this Cotton/Cork yarn made by Texteis Penedo with powder cork wastes, increasing the fabric resistance to microorganisms, in addition to decoration, and recovering a natural raw material (cork) that otherwise would not be valued.
Nuno Baltazar designed a demi-couture dress made by Tenowa from Riopele. A fabric made of wastes generated from the textile industry. Virgin raw materials, water and energy are saved upon. Tenowa means circular economy by recycling and reusing textile leftovers.
Alves/Gonçalves made a romantic dress-shirt of Demi, a sustainable fabric developed by Somelos. It is a blend of long staple cotton with Rose Fiber (a viscose extracted from roses) characterized by its luxurious feel and drape, giving a silky and shiny appearance.
TAP’s Upcycling competition
Green Circle was not the only sustainable scenario of the fair. At the end of day two, Modtissimo closed its doors with TAP’s Upcycling competition, in which young designers were challenged to create new garments using the belts and fabrics from old airplane seats. Tatiana Ribeiro, an ESAD student, was the winner, presenting a multifunctional vest that can be turned into a backpack.
How creative can the sustainable side of fashion be! It is really interesting, yes! But, fashion may include a business model and it has to be commercial. And it is already! Some Portuguese sustainable fashion Brands and Designers are already selling their collections Worldwide. They produce locally and nurture the traditional artisanal techniques and craftsmanship of their native country. Most of them are also adding ecological fabrics to their collections. Misci, Hibu, Reality Studio, Coraçao Alecrim, Marita Moreno, Toino Abel, Pé de Chumbo, Katty Xiomara, Roselyn Silva or Nazareth Collection are some of them. And they are doing it great!
Thinking in Sustainable Fashion
As Paulo Vaz, the ATP (The Textile and Apparel Association of Portugal) General Director, and Manuel Serrao, Director of Modtissimo and President in Selectiva Moda, assured us during last event, fashion events from Portugal will have sustainable fashion always in mind. “Technological innovation, design (creativity) and sustainability are our main focus now” – declared Paulo Vaz during the press conference hold during Modtissimo. “It is not just a commitment to the planet and to the new generations, it is also a strategy to differentiate ourselves from the fashion offer coming from other countries. How to combine technology with sustainability? It is the third pillar of our future and, in our case, it’s based on authenticity”.
“We changed from competition based on price to competition based on value” – he underlined. We want to profit this segment, to get a better margen and better markets. Sweden, Finland, Norway, EEUU…, even Brasil…even in emerging markets… We have to show that we are really sustainable. Because it’s the truth. The new Green Circle area has to grow in the future. We will participate in Neonyt Berlin, for instant. In four or five years, sustainable fashion will be one of our big markets” – Vaz declared to Luxiders Magazine.
As Manuel Serrao added: “The biggest bet we have made in this edition is Green Circle. It is one of the new macro trends. There are many companies that are investing in this area. Here, in Portugal, we have many products from many companies, for example, lots of companies are offering recycled products. It is not a new thing, it is just something that was not known until now. It is very important to show that there are many fashion companies in Portugal working on this”.
“Next year we want to present this platform in some fairs abroad, in Germany and in Italy. It is very important for Portuguese Designers to position their own brand abroad, that’s why we have to go for collective exhibitions” – said Serrao.
+ info: Modtissimo
