PRIDE OF PORTUGAL
19
In 1994 Mr Vieira launched his first shoe collections –
first for men, then for women. Each footwear collection
is inspired by a fashion theme, which also feeds into
other aspects of the brand. “For each new season there
is a fashion theme such as the Lisbon-Capri theme for
spring-summer 2012,” says Mr Vieira. “My team and I
travel frequently and then we discuss all the ideas at a
meeting and ‘digest’ our impressions. At this point
everything is dovetailed in terms of design – be it for
apparel or for shoes. Very rarely do items emerge
independently.”
The attraction of footwear for Mr Vieira is in their
many components and materials – and in particular,
leather. “I like leather, its touch and the variety the
material offers,” he says. “For this collection I have used
various materials in one shoe, sometimes up to six types
of leather. For instance, with one pair of ankle boots I
have combined light blue patent leather with coarse
canvas. It is precisely the contrast between these rich
and very plain materials that typifies this collection,
making it so irresistible.”
Although the Miguel Vieira trademark look is black
and white, the spring-summer 2012 footwear collection
features many pastel shades and co lourful details.
Mr Vieira says of this colourful new collection that,
although ‘black and white’ is a recurring theme, colours
“stand for summery weightlessness”. He says:
“Although I love to work with black and white, colour is
important in our collections so as to ensure product
variety as this allows us to offer our customers a larger
selection of shoes. The finish of the shoes is also
interesting. We look at every little detail, even when
designing the soles that are produced in one piece. And
featured inside the shoes is a hologram with the logo.”
Part of the appeal of Miguel Vieira’s footwear, fashion
and accessories is its Portuguese origins – and this is just
one of the reasons why it is corporate policy for the
company to produce exclusively in Portugal. “This allows
us to stay in direct touch with the manufacturing sites,”
says Mr Vieira. “I visit all the companies that cooperate
with us at least once a month. I am very disciplined and
see myself not only as a designer but also a
businessman. Everything must be taken into
consideration.”
Mr Vieira says he is inspired by travel to “fashionable
beach destinations and cities like Milan, Paris, New York
and London,” although films are also a great source of
inspiration for the designer – and may explain why his
footwear is so decadent. “I like glamorous 50s movies
and stars such as Humphrey Bogart, Cathérine Deneuve,
Marilyn Monroe, Paul Newman, Elizabeth Taylor, Ingrid
Bergman and Marlon Brando.”
Miguel Vieira has showcased his designs internationally on
catwalks in Paris, London, New York and Tokyo.
CREDIT: MIGUEL VIEIRA
Stepping away from his preferred black and white colour
schemes, Mr Vieira injected some colour into his new collection
to add “summery weightlessness”.
CREDIT: GDS/CONSTANZE TILLMANN