Vivaz, a Brazilian couture label that counts on glamour and sequins

" Vivaz, a Brazilian label founded by Elisabeth Faria in 1998, exemplifies perfectly hand-made, very couture pieces. The show takes place at her new ateliers in Belo Horizonte. Includes an interview.Life in Brazil beats to the rhythm of the samba and revolves around all that glitters as is the case for Vivaz, a label created in 1998 by Elisabeth Faria as a brand specialising in evening wear. Surrounded by her two daughters Camilla and Isabela and with the help of her studio, the designer, (who sells her clothes in more than 120 stores across Brazil but also in Europe and the Middle East), highlights her knowledge of all things handmade. It is in her ultra modern factory in Belo Horizonte, before the eyes of her atelier workers executing and putting the finishing touches to her designs, that her collection for winter 2014 is revealed. There is a successful union between evening outfits with a touch of sportswear and layering effects; long, art-deco style dresses adorned with grey beads, tunic-jumpers stitched onto plain dresses or skirts. Gowns embroidered with pearls shimmer like fish scales, a mixture of long and short produced in deep and sensual colours accentuate this embellished femininity of the entire collection… Interview: Elisabeth Faria: I am really happy because I am launching this new factory right now so there are a lot of employees who have been working with us for fifteen years and now they have a really huge space where they can work in a calm, really good atmosphere. The work that they do involves a lot of passion because we work with hand-made products so we have to do it with a lot of love and patience and this new space brings all this to the employers so we are really happy because of it. Music from the show.

Minas Fashion Week in Belo Horizonte: designers to remember

" Brazilian city, Belo Horizonte, has witnessed the growth of its important textile industry, a sector that has sponsored fashion designers for ten years, inviting them to showcase their collections. Take a look back at the 5 Brazilian labels that got noticed at this fashion week.Belo Horizonte, a city of 4 million residents, is part of the region home to the most important gold and diamond mines in the world and where for nearly ten years the textile industry has sponsored a fashion week that allows Brazilian labels to showcase their collections, which are distinguished by two trends; a casual style and sparkling evening wear… Our first discovery; Fabiana Milazzo. The two girls behind the label bring out an ultra glamorous silhouette, composed of lace and embroidery added to basic pieces like trousers, jumpers or gowns produced in coloured lace. They also use Brazilian silk, one of the most beautiful sorts in the world, which is painted in an art nouveau style… Viktor Dzenk takes inspiration from India, creating a mixed collection for men and women. Printed cashmere takes pride of place in a wardrobe that favours the informal. A more urban look from Plural Vicenza includes hooded-jumpers in animal print. This is the label’s 9th appearance at this fashion week, seeing revenue which increases every year. Moving onto Aurea Prates; this label showcases embroidery, using flowers and feathers to emphasise its sweaters. Chiffon mixes with linen whilst silk interacts with cotton for a casual yet glamorous wardrobe. A body-hugging silhouette, a detailed jumper and burnt-out silk trousers, a black dress embroidered at the side and a zip at the back, floral details emphasised, a jacket or a skirt composed of a blend of ribbons…the prime material for Apartemento that suggests femininity and never unveils too much. Music from the fashion shows.

Brazil showcases new creations

" In Belo Horizonte, Brazil showcases new creations…Belo Horizonte, home to 4 million people and Brazil’s third largest city, known for its curved buildings by the architect Oscar Niemeyer, hosted one of the country’s most important fashion events with a focus on new, emerging creations seen across the work of four young and noteworthy designers… Firstly, we have Esdra by Sarah Scheffel who has been passionate about shoes since her childhood and has already gained international experience in Italy at Sergio Rossi. She is inspired by the Parisian woman with interplays of black and white stripes and hints of multicoloured embroidery. Femininity is enhanced by the use of lace and visible lingerie. Leather is adorned with metallic eyelets resulting in a more urban silhouette. Jardin, by Bharbara Renault, is inspired by Chinatown. Small plaited cloche hats crown the heads of the models and the designer works quilted leather to produce a tight-fitting dress, a jumper and coordinated outfits. LLAS is a label created in 2010 by sisters Lorena and Laura Andrade. These two young designers play with the effects produced by layering and transparency with embroidered tulle, creating a small yet utterly delicate and wonderfully constructed collection. Lucas Magalhaes, reworks an indigenous aesthetic for a graphic and colourful wardrobe. Across this event, one can only salute the initiative of the textile industry in this region of Brazil, which showcases a generation of promising designers, giving them the means to benefit from a project worthy of the most prestigious fashion weeks.