I had the pleasure of meeting with Cecilia Telo, the founder of the brand (together with her husband) and spoke with her about their journey and the art of slow living.
A life shaped by travel
Cecilia has always been a world traveller. Her parents moved to Mozambique, where she studied anthropology, later finishing her degree in Canada.
After living in different parts of the world, she wasn’t sure where to settle. Cecilia loved electronic music of the 90s and at one of the parties she met her husband.
Seeing a gap in the market, she began creating garments for festivals. In Brazil, Mexico and all around the world. Through her travels, she built strong connections with people in the different parts of the world, and her workshops were based in Mexico, Thailand or Guatemala, using leather, stones and natural materials.
From festival culture to new skills
Later, they started creating accessorise for world music festivals. Her husband worked as drum and bass DJ, and they were lived between Europe in summer and Brazil in the winter.
After several years of this free and nomadic lifestyle, they felt the urge for a change. They moved to Barcelona, were both of them decided to study. Cecilia completed a master’s degree in business, while he attended a cooking school, which would be the base for their next adventure.
A successful leap
Their next move was to Portugal, where they decided to try a gastronomy business by opening their first restaurant with international kitchen in Vila Nova de Milfontes. It appears that Cecilia and her husband are successful in anything they touch, and the restaurant became very popular spot among both locals and tourists.
Although successful, the restaurant business wasn’t fulfilling for them. They sold it, but up to this date the restaurant is still prospering under the new ownership.
When Cecilia and Nuno happen to be in the area, they stop by to visit.
The Birth of Kozii
After moving to Tavira, they founded their fashion brand Kozii. The international contacts they had built over the years became very valuable. Their production is based in India, where Cecilia travels regularly, especially before launching new collections. Otherwise, she works remotely from Tavira, always being in touch with her team in India, which is sometimes challenging because of the time difference. New collections always need to be prepared ahead of time; Cecilia is already working on 2027 collection.
Cecilia is the main designer of the brand, always seeking new ideas and inspiration. The different prints and patterns ideas are always consulted with her team. Only natural, high-quality fibres are used, and many pieces involve ancient textile techniques such as hand block printing, batik or clamp dyeing.
“Our fashion embraces everybody and every age. No piece is the same, as everything is made by hand. We use only natural materials, so when you try our clothing, you will fall in love with how comfortable it is. Especially in summer, our materials are airy and light.”
Roles in the company are clearly defined.
“I am in charge of marketing, communication and design, and my husband handles everything related to our shops and contracting people.”
Shops and bestsellers
Today, Kozii has five shops in the Algarve, two shops in Tavira, and others in Olhão, Loulé and Lagos.
Their focus is mainly on women’s fashion, but they also design a few menswear pieces. Especially a men’s shirt, they found the perfect fit a few years ago and it returns each season with a different pattern as men love it!
Among lady’s items, a wrap skirt is a bestseller every season, it’s a universal size piece, so suits every body type and is very comfortable.
Kozii also produces home textiles, belts, cashmere scarfs, handbags or jewellery.
Another part of Cecilia’s job is organising photoshoots, which take place in different locations depending on the season. She cannot always be present, but she always communicates closely with the team to ensure a perfect outcome. And she does a great job because when you see their campaign photos, it’s like seeing photos from an international global brand.
Although Cecilia and Nuno create high-quality and timeless pieces that could gain recognition outside of Portugal, global expansion is not their dream at the moment. They are happy with their business and expanding more would mean they could no longer remain hands-on in every department. They enjoy being their own bosses as it gives “a lot of responsibility but also a lot of freedom.”
They also love the town where they decided to settle – Tavira, as even though it has international feel, it still is very authentic, with alternative vibe, which suits them perfectly.
Latest collections
Their most recent collection autumn/winter 2025 Purpura features all the shade of purple
“This season, we travel the full spectrum of purpura hues — from regal purples and tender mauves to the striking depth of petrol blue. The Purpura Collection embodies contrast: soft yet strong, mysterious yet vivid.”
Another highlight is the Kullu Capsule Collection - an exclusive capsule collection created in collaboration with Bhuttico — the historic weaving cooperative originating in Himalayas.
Rua Dr. Augusto da Silva Carvalho, 2C, 8800-324 Tavira, Portugal. Or see their latest collection online, website https://koziishop.com/ or on their Instagram page Kozii.