The label

Three-dimensionality and detail characterize Carla Pontes’ collections. The Oporto based womenswear brand explores volumes, layers and shapes to create depurated models, with a distinctive urban versatility. The design process allies craftsmanship reasoning, product design and industrial technology, resulting in an architectural feel and unconventional detailing. Taking inspiration from natural and artistic elements, Carla Pontes produces timeless collections, yet inherently adapted to the frenetic life of the contemporary woman.

The designer

Carla Pontes grew up between ballet lessons and her family’s textile business, nurturing a strong artistic sense and a technical knowledge of fabrics and production methods. Inspired by the creation processes on clothing, she decided to study product design before attending fashion studies in Oporto and Milan.

Carla presented her first eponymous collection in 2012, few months only after finishing the fashion studies. At this time, she was selected to integrate Portugal Fashion’s incubation platform that led to seasonal presentations in several locations such as Porto, Madrid, Lisbon and Oviedo.

Her designs are often described as establishing a balance of shapes and fabrics, with a notorious influence from her product design background. Carla teaches at Modatex fashion school, and her work has been selected to integrate Portuguese representation at London’s International Fashion Showcase. In 2015 she won the national prize at the European Young Designers Contest.

A marca

Caracterizada por uma constante procura do apuramento formal e da simplicidade contemporânea, as propostas de CARLA PONTES desenvolvem-se sob influência da linguagem minimalista e do cuidado com os materiais aplicados em peças de carácter urbano. Cada peça é encarada como um objeto tridimensional polido de desenho apurado. O desnecessário é anulado e o pormenor exaltado. Em CARLA PONTES pretende-se envolver e dar continuidade ao corpo humano.

A designer

Carla Pontes é licenciada em Design de Equipamento pela ESAD Matosinhos e Politecnico di Milano, e em Design de Moda pelo CITEX/MODATEX, Porto. Em 2011, realiza o estágio de final de curso no atelier de Nuno Baltazar, após o qual passa a integrar a sua equipa como Júnior Designer até finais de 2013.

No final de 2012, apresenta pela primeira vez no espaço BLOOM / Portugal Fashion, e ainda no Matadero de Madrid, no âmbito do Young Designers Fashion Show.

Em 2014 e 2015 expõe em Londres durante a London FW, integrando o grupo de designers que representaram Portugal no Internacional Fashion Showcase.

Em Fevereiro de 2015 é a vencedora portuguesa do European Young Designers Contest, parte do Porto Fashion Show.

Vem sendo, desde 2012, convidada a apresentar na plataforma BLOOM / Portugal Fashion, alargando simultaneamente a sua exposição internacional com feiras e showrooms em Londres, Paris, Copenhaga e Xangai.