ModaLisboa kicks off 60th edition with Fast Talks

By

Rocío ALONSO LOPEZ

Translated by
Roberta HERRERA

Published
Mar 10, 2023

Sustainability and innovation take centre stage at Lisbon Fashion Week. On Thursday March 9, the fashion event held at the Lisboa Social Mitra space, the innovation hub located in the Santa Casa da Misericórdia in Lisbon, kicked off with a series of talks led by the multifaceted Joana Barrios. During these talks, various designers and professionals from the fashion world were able to present their projects designed to create a positive impact on the environment.

The event began with a speech by Eduarda Abbondanza, president of the Associação ModaLisboa, who wanted to recall the main theme of this 60th edition, 'Core'. He stressed the importance of giving designers a voice in order to move forward in today's highly volatile environment.

Then, during the first part of the event, a series of eco-responsible projects were presented by Inês Sequeia, director of Casa do Impacto, an environmental initiative that aims to raise awareness among brands and professionals; and João Esteves, co-founder and CEO of the sustainable trainer brand Diverge Sneakers, which is part of Casa do Impacto's +PLUS fund; Anastasia Bilous, stylist and editor of Elle Ukraine, who spoke about the importance of strengthening the relationship between brands and the press, as well as the process of building brands in the current context of war, citing examples such as the Ukrainian firm Zhilyova; and Olivia Spinelli, director of the IED Moda Milano school, who has worked as a designer for brands such as Dolce & Gabbana and Versace, explained how the design school incorporates sustainability in its projects and stressed the importance of creating a community in order to make progress in sustainability.

João Wengorovius Meneses, secretary general of BCSD Portugal, an association committed to the transition to sustainability that represents more than 140 companies in Portugal, presented the 'Beat by be@t' initiative, through which the organisation aims to guide designers in the industry with projects that boost the bioeconomy. Through this project, five finalists will present their sustainable projects at the next edition of ModaLisboa in October and a winner will be selected.

Some of the designers participating in this edition of the event presented their views on the challenges facing the sector in the field of sustainability, including the Lisbon-based designer Valentim Quaresma, who will present the new collection of his eponymous contemporary fashion and jewellery brand on Friday March 10; the designer Luís Carvalho and Joana Duarte, founder and designer of the Béhen brand, who will be showing on Saturday March 11; and the designers Nuno Baltazar, João Magalhães, Não Magalhães, and Joana Duarte, who will be presenting the new collection of their eponymous contemporary fashion and jewellery brand on Saturday March 11; and designers Nuno Baltazar, João Magalhães, Nuno Gama, Ana Duarte, from the streetwear brand Duarte, and Marta Gonçalves, founder and creative director of the genderless minimalist streetwear brand Hibu, who will show their collections on the last day of the event on Sunday March 12.