Fashion Scout has once again welcomed back the Portugal
Showcase this season. Talented new designers Joao Melo Costa and Daniela Barros
took to the Fashion Scout catwalk on Day One and are now
showing their collections in our exhibition room. We caught up with them to
find out more about their collections and their plans for the future.
Joao Melo Costa showcased vibrant tones and tactile
fabrics, here is what he had to say about his SS15 catwalk collection,
Hi Joao, can you tell us about what has inspired your SS15
collection?
I always strive to create a story about something in each
collection, and in this particular collection it's all about rearranging
materials. I have looked at the idea of planning your life versus planting
something, I looked a lot at the idea of plantation so in this collection we
can see the different phases of that process. In the beginning I looked towards
the land and the idea of inspection and revolving the dirt to understand
nature, then as my collection grew I began to look at the idea of growth and
re-birth and that is where my colour palette began to evolve and become more
and more vibrant.
Your collection is very tactile, can you tell us about the
fabrics that you have used?
I used bonded silk organza for this collection. I wanted
to use all natural fabrics. The fibres are natural so that gives the collection
a more natural feeling. I had so many extravagant looks lined up so I wanted my
collection to feel more natural and portrayed that feeling of nature through my
fabrics. Colour is also very important to me, the last part of this collection
was very colourful and that was to represent energy and new life. My final
catwalk look was a green dress which represented hope and energy.
What do you think about Fashion Scout as a platform for
progression?
Fashion Scout has been amazing for support and
recognition. It is a great platform and a very recognisable name so I am very
happy to be showing here!
What are your plans for the future?
I want to continue to bring my brand to an international
level and to see if it can slot into the market, I am also going to be working
on my new collection for next season.
Daniela Barros looked to form and casual tailoring in her collection. We found out what she was inspired by.
Hello Daniela, what are the inspirations behind your SS15
collection?
My collection has been inspired by muscles, although
aesthetically it is very geometric and not as rounded as muscles would be. The
main focus of the collection is around identity and what people think they are
as opposed to how they truly are. Tailoring plays a big part in my collection,
I was inspired by smart tailoring but wanted to look at the idea of tailoring
without structure. I kept my designs really oversized and relaxed whilst
focusing on shape and strong cuts.
What do you think of Fashion Scout as a platform of progression for new designers?
London is a really fantastic place to be showing my
collection and Fashion Scout has given me the most amazing platform to promote
my work and to make a mark on London.
What are your plans for the future?
I would like to bring my brand to a new audience which I
hopefully will be able to do through platforms such as this. I want to make
some more contacts and maybe look at forming partnerships to gain further
exposure for my brand.
Be sure to check the Portugal Showcase at the Fashion Scout exhibition all day today!
Be sure to check the Portugal Showcase at the Fashion Scout exhibition all day today!
By Charlotte Muscat, (@CharlotteLM9).
Photographs by Elizabeth Hodson