Texbrasil brands walk the runway at Sao Paulo Fashion Week
The 38th edition of Sao Paulo Fashion Week was held from November 3 to 7, 2014, at Parque Candido Portinari, in Sao Paulo. Seven member brands of Texbrasil (Brazilian Fashion Industry Internationalization Program, developed by Abit in partnership with Apex-Brasil) showed their collections: Apartamento 03, GIG, PatBo and Victor Dzenk made their debuts this season, while Colcci, Pedro Lourenco and Teca continued in the lineup from the last edition.
Right away on day one, Victor Dzenk was inspired by a more equestrian and cowboy-influenced world, using materials like pleated leather, knitted fabrics, knitwear and predominantly brown and orange tones. Patricia Bonaldi, famous for her embroidery and ornamentation, had a great premiere at SPFW with her younger label, PatBo, with a collection inspired by Celtic civilization.
Pedro Lourenco showed his collection on day two of the event, in an art gallery on the south side of Sao Paulo. The designer looked to the woman of the ’80s and to his mother to create looks for F/W 2015.The day ended with a show by Colcci, with Gisele Bundchen at the center of attention of the fashionistas.
Minas Gerais brand GIG went beyond the fashion shows and, in partnership with Texbrasil, invited 5 French journalists to cover the brand’s day to day before, during and after fashion week. Caroline Hamelle, of Grazia UK, Elvire Emptaz, of Elle, Samar Seraqui, of the Une Libanaise à Paris blog, Louis B., of L’Officiel, and Florent Gilles, of FashionMag, had an intense schedule, ranging from a post-show cocktail at the Abit/Texbrasil lounge to visits to the label’s flagship store in Sao Paulo and its factory in Belo Horizonte.
“The collection GIG showed is a very much matched to the European market,” said Caroline, looking at the clothes backstage. “It is very interesting how the brand is able to use knitting to make different items, such as jackets and dresses,” says Louis. The collection, inspired by designer Gina Guerra’s trip to Uzbekistan, is made entirely of knitwear, the brand’s visual identity.
The Teca show was held right afterwards, notable for its medieval references and the brand’s classic materials, such as silk devore, velvet and jacquard. The week ended with a show by newcomer Apartamento 03, a label by Luiz Claudio Silva that is now part of the Nohda group, a holding created by Patricia Bonaldi that also includes the PatBo and Lucas Nascimento brands.
The forest setting of the Japanese film Dersu Uzala (1975), by Akira Kurosawa, served as a visual reference for the collection, which included creative volumes and shapes and strong cut-outs and prints. Mexican reporter Aldo Hernandez, who came to see SPFW at the invitation of Texbrasil, was enthusiastic about the collection. “Apartamento 03 and PatBo are definitively the best of the season, in my opinion. This is my first time in Brazil to see Brazilian fashion up close and I was thrilled with the country’s creations,” he said in closing.