Based in Portugal, married to Animal Collective’s Panda Bear (aka Noah Lennox), and designer of all things treasured and unique? TESS CURRAN chats to the beautiful FERNANDA PEREIRA and discovers that having it all doesn’t mean you can’t still be really really nice...

TESS CURRAN: How did you get started in fashion design? Were you very into crafting and creating and ‘dress ups’ as a child?

FERNANDA PEREIRA: One day when I was 10 a little girl said to me: “I wanna be a fashion designer!” I thought: “Is that a profession? Oh, can I do for a living what I like the most!?” That’s how it started! I always loved images, fashion, styling, photography and visual art so somehow I knew I would go that way! Fashion definitely might include a little of all of that so it was an easy decision. When I was a little girl and there wasn’t so much easy toys and TV as we have these days, I would create dolls’ clothes and accessories. I still think that is fun, so now I do it for grown up people!

TC: How would you describe your style and inspirations as a designer?

FP: I like to innovate but keep some classic beauty overall. It’s a bit weird to talk about myself, but one day a friend described my pieces as “street couture” and I agree! I always like to do wearable and comfortable clothes, but with a unique and refined touch. That unique touch comes usually with handmade work and improvisation.

TC: Are all of your collections limited editions or do you one day hope to stock more broadly?

FP: I’m starting to stock broadly, but I’m keeping things limited. I don’t think I’ll ever be a mass produced designer though. My goal is to make people feel special and unique.

TC: What sort of materials do you use in your jewellery/headwear? The designs are very elaborate – does it take a lot of work to complete each piece?

FP: Some pieces might take months as they grow slowly in my working space. It’s a process, from finding the right pieces to apply, to lots of craft work and patience. The materials can be anything. One thing I get a lot of pleasure out of is finding and working with different materials.

TC: How did the ‘2nd’ project with Noah [a collaborative project of sustainable sweatshirts and more] come about?

FP: 2ND ‘was born’ because we’re always speaking about what we are doing or creating. So we started to develop ideas together. It’s a second project to both of us and it has kind of a free vibe. There’s no schedule or timing, it just happens. Sometimes it takes a while to show because the things need time to be produced and organised (time that we don’t often have), but there’s always a lot of ideas in the air!

TC: What are some of your favourite ways to spend your time when you’re not designing?

FP: Doing something with my daughter and my husband..

TC: Are there any more collaborative projects with Noah on the horizon?

FP: Definitely there will be more projects with Noah – soon!

For more FERNANDA PEREIRA, check www.fernandapereira.net / www.beyondthevalley.com / www.farfetch.com / www.pixiemarket.com / www.buydefinition.com. 

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