While browsing for local artists, I was surprised to discover that in small village of São Brás de Alportel, there is a haute couture designer, who has collaborated with famous designer Christian Loboutin.
Her name is Maria João Gomes.
Hidden inside the Museu do Traje (Costume Museum), her atelier feels like a world of its own. Despite her success, she remains a very modest and down-to-earth person.
Originally from the Algarve, Maria has also lived in Paris, London, Madrid and the US. She speaks several languages and has a lot of experience in the world of fashion. She has always been an artistic person, and, in the past, she used to paint, finding art to be some form of therapy for her.
Traditional techniques
After returning to Portugal, she decided to do something creative and continue the old technique that she learned from her grandmother. Using old palm weaving techniques but adapting them to the modern world. And this is how brand Palmas Douradas was born in 2015.
Maria does the entire process herself, from collecting palm leaves, drying them, to the creative process. Each piece is unique and different, with its own story.
She usually spends her days in the atelier, where she welcome’s visitors and works on creating new pieces. Maria finds inspiration in the nature, when selecting palm leaves, she has already ideas coming about what to create next, as well as in the Algarve’s beauty and in the work of renowned fashion designers.
She began by creating fashion accessories such as hats, bags, jewellery, which led to her being featured in numerous fashion magazines, both in Portugal and internationally. She also participated in a fashion show alongside famous Portuguese fashion designer Filipe Faisca. Her pieces have been showcased at major events like Portugal fashion week or Paris fashion week.
Interior designs
Nowadays, Maria prefers to focus more on interior design pieces. Large woven rugs, sculptural lampshades, mandalas and decorative wall art.
Her social media features professional photography, often with her own children, her older daughter and younger son, as models. Maria is deeply family-oriented person and enjoys a lot time spend with granddaughter.
Maria would love to preserve the art of weaving for future generations. This is a technique that was common in the past, but now is mastered by only few.
Her work is sustainable, timeless and unique. She has exhibited in different parts of world, recently she had an exhibition in a gallery in Luxembourg. Her clients are from different continents, and her pieces are sold in select boutiques in Paris.
If you wish to purchase her work, contact her directly through her Instagram palmasdouradas or visit her at the atelier R. Dr. José Dias Sancho 61,
8150-141 São Brás de Alportel.