Today we will introduce you to Daniela Catraia, Nelson Oliveira, Daniela Sá and Joana Da’Graça, four young talented designers focusing their energies and creativity on the footwear industry.

Daniela Catraia enrolled on the Footwear Design degree at the Lisbon School of Design when she was still studying Architecture. She fell in love by the footwear industry and next thing she moved to the North of Portugal where most of the industry is concentrated. “I went to São João da Madeira and once there I look for the tools and the relevant knowledge to start implementing my project”. It was by then that the adventure of creating a brand in her own name started. The designer admits that, despite the deep appreciation of the shoe industry, she can’t forget the influence of architecture in her work: “Geometry is always on the origin of all that I do. When I start to draw the models, I use a ruler and square, as if I was going to do an architecture project.” The next steps of Daniela’s adventure include the promotion of the brand, and its internationalization, with an aim to grow in other markets.

Nelson Oliveira, another young designer, is not new to the footwear industry. “My ancient memories take me to when I was a young child and I used to play with the shoes”, as his mother was an entrepreneur working on footwear. After studying Fashion and working as a clothing designer, Nelson decided to venture in footwear. He has a Technological Degree in Footwear Design by the Design and Footwear Academy in Felgueiras and has collaborated with footwear companies, such as Nobrand. His latest venture is his own brand, Nelson Oliveira - Footwear and Accessories, and he admits to be very focused in creating products that ally comfort and casual with originality, with an urban touch.

Daniela Sá is the woman behind the Najha brand. Daniela gave up a career in Management and Marketing in 2008 to focus on footwear and started the relevant training. At the Design and Footwear Academy, after training in Design and Fashion, she developed the necessary ideas to launch her own project. She also studied at the ARS Sutoria International School, where Najha, the brand joining innovative design with cork materials, was born. “It is a pleasure to ally fashion with cork, so that we can offer innovative products”. Daniela also has concerns to produce fashionable products that are sustainable and healthy, hence why besides focusing on cork materials, organic cotton for the bags liners and eco liners for the shoes are used. Daniela recently showed her collection in the American continent, while participating in the RunWay for Hope in Canada for the first time.

Joana Da’Graça, who won a 2st prize at the New Talents contest in 2006, studied Footwear and Leather Goods Modeling, and collaborated with several fashion designers. The Portugal Fashion and ModaLisboa shows were just some of the events where her shoes sparkle and caught attention of the audience. In the last edition of the ModaLisboa show (October 2014) her homonymous brand was on the catwalk in a partnership with designer Luís Carvalho. Joana believes that the materials used are one of the most important and differentiating elements in her collections. “The product differs from others by the conjugation of raw materials and by breaking with traditional canons used in the industry”.