CREATORS
In 2012, Cameron Saul and Oliver Wayman founded the Bottletop Fashion Company, a luxury accessories brand that serves as the business arm of the Bottletop Foundation. The foundation has positively impacted nearly 35,000 young people worldwide, addressing issues like drug abuse and reproductive health. The foundation is central to Bottletop's mission, serving as a source of inspiration. Most of the foundation's work occurs in Rio and São Paulo, where local artisans, trained through the foundation's programs, create luxury handbags. These artisans receive fair wages, private health benefits, and the opportunity to support themselves and their families.
Inspired by the nature and heritage of her native country, Ceyla Lacerda has created a collection that pays tribute to the peoples of Brazil and highlights an ancestral heritage in remarkably contemporary designs. By donating part of the income to these idle communities, Ceyla Lacerda puts her passion at the service of the peoples who make Brazil rich.
Farm Rio started planting trees in Brazil's Atlantic Forest and the Amazon Rainforest a few years ago, partnering with SOS Mata Atlântica Foundation and the Institute for Conservation and Sustainable Development of the Amazon. They've expanded their brand internationally and now collaborate with One Tree Planted. Every purchase on their website, in stores, or through authorized retailers leads to a tree being planted in various Brazilian biomes, restoring soil, boosting local economies, and preserving biodiversity.
Hailing from Ceará, Brazil, Catarina Mina boasts 12 years of crafting handmade bags that are a fusion of crochet and creative thought. Their journey has often been an uphill battle, but they persist. Currently, production takes place in three key locations: Fortaleza, the capital of Ceará; Itaitinga, 40 km from the capital; and Aracatiaçu, a district in Sobral, a city in the northern part of Ceará.
Working with Barrie Knitwear for over twenty years, Clements Ribeiro developed decorative mushroom made out of upcycled Scottish cashmere fabric swatches.
Fernando Jorge's FLAME Collection features 30 pieces, from elegant studs to stunning necklaces, including all-gold and diamond-studded designs. The collection highlights native Brazilian gemstones like emeralds, Paraiba tourmalines, rubellites, and Imperial topaz, set in 18k white, yellow, and rose gold. Jorge emphasizes ethical sourcing, partnering with vertically integrated suppliers. A portion of FLAME sales supports Amazon rainforest protection and reforestation efforts.
Gerbase. explores elemental connections between material, form and function. A multidisciplinary design studio that creates purposeful and intuitive womenswear from pre-existing raw materials, Gerbase. is committed to organic exploration, experimentation and the celebration of forgotten artisanal and industrial processes.
Brazilian-born London designer Karoline Vitto celebrates the unconventional aspects of the female form, prioritizing inclusivity and sustainability in her 2020-founded label, which offers made-to-order pieces in sizes UK8 to UK28. Vitto is the emerging fashion designer supported by Dolce&Gabbana project this year.
Renata plays with Brazilian national clichés and investigates Brazil's identity through fashion icons which, not only are wildly popular, but also reveal the devotional nature of Brazilians as people. Her process involves upcycling and considered craftsmanship, techniques inspired by the brand ethos of Gambiarra, which entails changing the original function of an object through a process of improvisation.
Joao Maraschin, a semifinalist for the LVMH Prize 2023, reframes deadstock materials with embroidery and macramé made by women from a community in his homeland, Minas Gerais estate.
In collaboration with BeLeaf, Lourenco reimagines the classic biker jacket, replacing exotic animal skins with sustainable vegan materials. Each elephant ear leaf, manually cut in Rio de Janeiro, captures CO2 during production. These leaves are meticulously placed on the pattern, minimising waste and following the leaf's natural veins.
Veja uses fair trade cotton, grown naturally without synthetic chemicals. They source Regenerative Organic Certified® cotton from Peru for Wata II canvas, and the lining and laces come from 100% organic cotton in Brazil and Peru. Veja purchased 1,190 tons of organic and agroecological cotton from 2004 to 2022, paying 50% above market rates. Their Amazonian rubber partner, CooperAcre, is Fair for Life certified, supporting human rights and community projects for rubber tappers.
Embracing slow fashion, Waiwai Rio prioritizes local production. Through meticulous craftsmanship, they create exquisite accessories that epitomize contemporary Brazil, seamlessly blending Rattan—a raw material sourced from Cipó-Titica, native to the Amazon—with 100% Recycled Acrylic and Rilsan.