COLLECTION | Daniela Barros & Joao Melo Costa

Daniela Barros

Daniela Barros is a Portuguese fashion designer, her brand represents minimalism and draws attention to the feminine vs masculine discussion. Each of her garments ooze with personality. Her consistent minimal but chic theme is seen throughout her autumn/winter collection. Still following from last years minimalistic theme, Baros kicked off her show with tranquil music and a neutral palette. The models sillouttes were draped in soft colours such as creams and whites. Daniela delved into current trends such a backpacks last season it was all about the oversized clutches. This year her autumn/winter collection was all about shoulder bags a lot more practical than back packs. She injected colour in her collection with dark navy tops and a lot of layering which I’m sure is a season favourite.

Joao Melo Costa

The Portuguese designer, represented by PortugalFashion which is core in promoting the country’s image of creativity, modernism and design talent. Joao showcased his collection filled with prints, patterns such as criss crosses. Two pieces were a key element in his collection. Grey skirts were slit and blazers were embelished with diamonds all careful placed on each garment. Khaki sheepskin jackets were a favourite. What would winter be without a good coat? The colours in his collection as meshed around perfectly. Patterns on evening dresses consisted of pinks, greens and blues.

BACKSTAGE | Daniela Barros & Joao Melo Costa

Fantastic backstage images from Daniela Barros & Joao Melo Costa.

Photography by Florian Schadauer

on Twitter @floriansdr

Fashion Scout welcome Portugal's Daniela Barros & Joao Melo Costa

Daniela Barros' carefully selected materials and prints are inspired by the juxtaposition between the ego and personality, the masculine and the feminine and the natural and the man-made. Held together with the concept of structuring and minimalism, the designer's aim is to avoid surplus of any kind, be it with colour choice, fabric or the inclusion of graphics.

Joao Melo Costa graduated Citix in 2011, following attendance at The Art's Univeristy of Porto in 2008. In 2012 his collection was nominated for Best New Talent at the Portugal Fashion Awards. The designer then went on to show his SS14 at London Fashion Week, in addition to a pop-up at The International Fashion Showcase 2014.

We can't wait to see what the designer's have in store for Fashion Scout AW15, The Freemasons Hall, Covent Garden. February 20^th – 24^th.

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COLLECTION| Daniela Barros & Joao Melo Costa

This season, Portugal fashion showcased two of their most talented contemporary designers on the Fashion Scout catwalk. 

Daniela Barros opened Portugal’s showcase with a collection of geometric, casually tailored designs complete with fluid elements. Fabric manipulation features heavily throughout Barros’ collection, with oversized tailoring giving way to draping and asymmetry in garments which promote innovation and experimentation. Barros describes her design process as being somewhere in the middle of truth and theatre, her designs are minimal with stylized manipulated features. Barros’ collection features a limited colour palette in neutral tones, with a simple lined print breaking up black and white looks. A highlight of Barros’ collection came in the form of giant, oversized leather clutch bags and backpacks perfectly complementing her minimalist style. 

Joao Melo Costa closed the Portugal showcase with a collection rich in colour and texture. Costa’s collection takes inspiration from products of the earth with paper-like fabrics gracing the catwalk complete with tie-side detailing and nature-inspired floral prints featured alongside almost three dimensional necklines. Harsh textures provide an occasional contrast to the predominantly lightweight fabrics in Costa’s overtly tactile collection. Completed with an array of brightly coloured ruffled garments taking to the catwalk, it was a combinations of vibrant colours including lime green and shocking pink. Oversized ruffles take centre stage in Costa’s collection which provides a lesson in texture and print alike.

By Charlotte Muscat, (@CharlotteLM9).

Photos by Kathryn Younger.

DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT SS15| Daniela Barros & Joao Melo Costa

Bringing together urban and elegant in amazingly deconstructed garments, Portuguese designer Daniela Barros has been drawing attention of the international industry for her ability to form a perfect balance between minimalist shapes and androgynous oversized creations. The designer, who graduated from Porto University in 2008, has shown her pieces in the runways of Lisbon, Vienna, Paris and London.

  

Working with the contrast between strong geometric shapes and the delicate balance and movement of the materials used, Barros creates conceptual pieces that are greatly inspired by the self and philosophical concepts. The designer, who has as creative director of Portuguese brands Hush Puppies and Heavy Jeans, creates three-dimensional shapes that emanate an aura resting between ethereal and powerful, and is sure to bring strong and interesting new looks to the catwalk this season.

Joao Melo Costa is a graduate of the Arts University of Porto. Presenting his first collection in Portugal, he was nominated for best new talent in the fashion awards Portugal.   Having also showcased his collection in New York, Barcelona and Madrid to name a few, we look forward to seeing his work on the Fashion Scout catwalk.

Last season, "Joao Melo Costa opened his show with round shoulders and diamante encrusted sleeves. Starchy materials gave garments an oversized fit and contrasted an array of fluid ankle slit trousers. Pinstripe was a key feature throughout and was used in both dresses and two piece trouser suits. Models graced the catwalk in identical flatform shoes adding yet another androgynous aura to proceedings. Oversized ensembles included a ginger coloured embellished top with fluid trousers and a mini skirt and oversized jacket complete with leather tasseling." (Charlotte Muscat, Fashion Scout contributor).

Daniela Barros & Joao Melo Costa will be showcasing on the Fashion Scout catwalk together on Friday 12th September at 16:30.

By Biju Belinky, Contributor, (@bijubelinky).

Images, courtesy of Daniela Barros & Joao Melo Costa.

NEWS| International Fashion Showcase, Xiao Li & Joao Melo Costa

British Council's International Fashion Showcase this year exhibited the work of Fashion Scout Merit Award Winner Xiao Li as well as Joao Melo Costa from Portugal Fashion, who showcased earlier this week at the Freemasons' Hall. Located on The Strand, the venue plays host to fourteen showcases from our international designer counterparts. Highlights include Costa’s ‘Bloom as a Boom’ overcoat, which features laser-cut glittered rubber creation is interestingly displayed in a greenhouse setting. Playing on the striking lime green tone of the garment itself, its floral motif makes for a beautifully eye catching piece which looks to have taken inspiration from the natural world around us. 

Merit Award winner Xiao Li’s innovative knitwear creations are displayed as part of the China showcase, where two of her signature heavy knit pieces in lemon yellow and pale lilac are chosen to represent her AW14 collection. Shown on our catwalk on Saturday 15th February, the collection's oversized ribbed knits display a combination of starchy structure with a soft edge whilst exaggerated, intricately detailed necklines add further interest to Li’s award winning designs.

Charlotte Muscat (@CharlotteLM9)

Images by Hannah McGee (@HannahMcG3e) taken on the fashion forward LumixGM1 (@PanasonicUK)