Your inspiration is very specific, why?
My inspiration has to do with my imaginary world, as I say. I like anything that has to do with the fantastic taste and create with that identity, because there are similar outfits in the market, the other stores have things more common and modern and I like to be a different option type. And that people dress up a little, a little different, more special with some of the closes I create.
Rewaining , are the fabrics organics or have any environmental concern when shopping?
Yes, I have. I bring them from abroad, and they are all organic. Unfortunately in Portugal is difficult to find this type of fabric in an affordable cost, because of the current economy, also because people do not have the financial capacity to pay slightly more for biological close. What I do often is work with leather, I sort recycling, and go places where I know the animals are not killed specifically for that, also only work with cow, pork and nothing more. I always try to go to the roots. Recycle the most and have the biological material accessible.
And there is an client for the type of clothing that you sell?
I have the shop three years. Opened in September 2007. Yes, at first I thought my clientele would be young people. I first opened the shop in the shopping center of Cedofeita because of the youth, but when I reached the street and internet, I noticed that I was not just young people who bought the closes. Older people also liked to match one piece with something more than usual, creating a certain kind of contrast. Now I have no specific clients. I have people from teenagers to fifty years.
Why the name Elfic? It's about leprechauns?
It has to do with , but are different. It has more to do with elves, are nymphs who protect the forest. They are also warriors, because they keep save nature. The theme is that. Even the colours I like to use for closes that I create are more from the land, no fluorescent colors. Are more natural, red ochres, browns, dark greens and oranges. I am also interested in cybernetics and futuristic environments, a minimalist aesthetic inspired by technologically advanced societies in harmony with the environment.
Do you have any fetish piece in your collection? One that reflects your personality?
Yes, yes. It's brown and is on my photo of facebook. It has the most to me. Also because I only create one piece of each. I do not duplicate, they are one of the kind to the people able to acquire them. It's almost a little caress from mine, a small gift, as I say.
How do you see the national market to young people like you? That promotes a product as unique and different?
Thus, Portugal is not very easy. The more I leave the country, the more I see that there are more opportunities out there. But I do not want to give up being here, is my land. And the country has an obligation, as we have rights and duties, the country can not lose people who have a different view. Because it helps to pull forward, to create a different dynamic, evolving and will above all help to have a different perspective. I think Portugal has the capacity to accept such articles. I've seen in stores here in the street and Miguel Bombarda. Are more specific, have different things. Clients exists, they not always have purchising power. But I think there should be more people with initiatives such as mine, or from other areas that bet on what really they enjoy doing.
What is the future of Elfic Wear? What's the next step of your project?
Within a year I see myself continuing to make the collections as it has been until now. Always different. Now I'm finishing the summer edition, with more fair and shorter dresses. I would like in four or five years to design films characterization, costume designer. Until then I'm gatherin a good portfolio, learning some techniques so that one day I decide to run for one of such project.
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