LISBOA FASHION WEEK FALL WINTER 17 - AN INTERVIEW WITH DINO ALVES

by Rehana Nurali

For Dino Alves the most important thing was always the truth and that’s the statement he passed on his last show at Lisboa Fashion Week FW 17. Having this in mind WAM Magazine talked to Dino Alves to find out more about him and his last collection “Manual de Instruções” (Instruction Manual). 

What sparked your interest in fashion?

I always felt that I had a connection with fashion for my way of being in life. But I never decided to go to the fashion area, I never decided to be a designer. Actually when I had to choose I chose to be a painter also because at that time fashion didn’t have much of the artistic side it has today. But I always had fashion in mind since I was a kid because I don’t think it’s just about combining a pair of pants with a shirt, it’s more than that. Fashion comes from the inside, you need to have style, otherwise you can try all the clothes and it won’t work.

Do you feel like you’ve ever walked through life mistaken?

I was mistaken about other things but never about this. I made sure I always kept faithful to what I think is the truth. That’s why I don’t have any partners. I know that if that happens it will have to be with a person like me who gives primacy to the truth. I also feel that the trigger point for me was believing year after year that things would change but the years passed and nothing changed. I looked at the things I used to do when I started and it was clear to me that I did those things without being aware. Of the costs. Of the time it took. Of everything. I still feel fulfilled now doing what I do but I feel I had more freedom before. It was insane but at that time I only thought about my desire to create. Now I still want to feel free but I can’t be as unconscious as I was 10 years ago. I give a lot but then I don’t have much return. The best return is to have a few people in my life with whom I really have a true connection and of course the title that no one can take away from me: the title of Portuguese’s fashion “Enfant-terrible”.

What inspires you to create?

I constantly say I get inspired by life and by people. Even when I pass by the street I see something that at first might not be that relevant but it can be the starting point of something. Nowadays I definitely get more inspiration from people and social causes. I never got my inspiration from a movie or a piece of art and although I’m not really a political person I think that what I do turns out to be political because I don’t feel fulfilled with just the design. That’s something most people are able to do. So I want to do more than that. I want to react to something through fashion.

In this specific collection what was your inspiration?

My inspiration was the fact that there is a discrepancy between the enthusiasm of going to a show and then how this enthusiasm is actually reflected after. Because in the end how many people that goes to the show actually end up buying the pieces and demonstrating a real interest? In Portugal there aren’t designers who have 400 or 200 clients, that doesn’t exist here. That’s why during Ana Bola and Maria Rueff’s presentation of the show I made clear that in that room I only had like 5 or 6 direct clients.

Although people assume my pieces are very expensive without even trying to know the real price I also had in consideration that nowadays there isn’t much purchasing power. That’s why I made a collection without locks, buttons and this wasn’t because these items are expensive but because of the time it takes to apply them. Therefore, I reduced the effort to the minimum. All of this has it’s funny side because people have no idea of how much it costs and people who say “I was expecting more from this collection” are the ones that usually understand this the least that’s why I felt like saying “Really? Do it yourselves then” and this was highlighted in a funny way in the presentation.

This is a message that concerns all designers. I was just the spokesperson of them all. So I’m really happy that now after the show I can feel the support of my colleagues like Ana Salazar that is without a doubt the mother of Portuguese fashion and others like Nuno Baltazar and Valentim Quaresma. This is one of the reasons I wanted to grab this statement I made and make it theirs too. Make this for all of us. Because the difficulties I have to go through are the same for them.

What advice do you give to the designers who are just starting out?

I think that the way to go is for people to be original and don’t go after anyone’s ideas. People should just follow their own ideas and remain truthful to who they are. I’m totally certain that that made like 80% of my success. People need to make sure that their work passes their own truth because everyone can see when something isn’t authentic.

Are there any professional goals you think you haven’t reached yet?

What I feel on a professional level is that I should not have to work this hard to achieve things and with that I’m obviously not saying I don’t have flaws but this is what I want the most. I feel that I have ambition but I’m not a materialistic person. I really cherish the people who have been with me in this journey and I know I was able to pass a good energy to them and make a real connection. This human side is surely one of the most important aspects in my professional life.

What do you think about the current national fashion scene and its future?

Honestly I’m not sure because the main thing here is that we are in Portugal and it’s not a big country so obviously there is a larger artistic expression in other countries and a greater impact. That’s the major difference for things being much harder here than in other places. Despite that I see my colleagues’ shows and I feel that most of them really are as good as other international designers. There is not a lack of creativity but we’ll never be a country focused on fashion although this might change in the future. Another thing is that for us to go abroad we need to have a structure in those countries and this is something that, in the last instance, needs support. So for the future let’s hope this changes and people don’t just settle down.

Dino Alves' "Manual de Instruções" Collection - Lisboa Fashion Week Fall Winter 17

LISBOA FASHION WEEK FALL WINTER 17 - AN INTERVIEW WITH FILIPE FAÍSCA

by Rehana Nurali

WAM Magazine went to Lisboa Fashion Week and got the chance to interview Filipe Faísca, an inescapable presence at portuguese runways. Take a look to get to know him better and to see what he has to say about “Caleidoscópio”, the last collection he presented at Lisboa Fashion Week Fall Winter 17. 

What sparked your interest in fashion?

Fashion for me is life and it started really early, even when I was four years old I used to tell my mother how she should get dressed to go out. So for me there is something in the fabric that is closely connected with the skin, it’s more intuitive and it’s more about the feeling than about the thinking...

What inspires you to create?

I get inspiration from the world and the universe itself. It’s always inspiring to go out and to feel the energy that surrounds us. Besides that I get most of my inspiration from travelling.

In this specific collection what was your inspiration?

It was the speed with which life passes by today and having that in consideration we need to realize that there is neither time nor space. We are living a life of plurality and a mix that in fact has always been part of Lisbon since the 14th century where the trade increased. So nowadays a woman’s wardrobe has to be efficient and therefore we worked hard on this trend that is related to sports which is something that currently everyone talks about. But we worked this trend in our own way with our House’s DNA. It’s all about the details, the manufacture and handcraft. That’s why people can see a sportswear line that is well thought out and with many finishing touches.

What advice do you give to the designers who are just starting out?

The advice I give is that they should have a lot of persistence and willpower because it really takes a strong will and a true pleasure for doing this to get somewhere.

Are there any professional goals you think you haven’t reached yet?

Of course, I think I still have to reach industrialization because I’m just an atelier that makes pieces one by one.

What do you think about the current national fashion scene?

My view of the national fashion scene is wonderful, I think it’s boiling. But like I said before it’s important to be aware that fashion in its manufacturing side is a really precious thing like making furniture, watches and jewelry. It’s so meticulous that you have to be very careful with it.

                    Filipe Faísca's "Caleidoscópio" Collection - Lisboa Fashion Week Fall Winter 17

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE HAIR - AN INTERVIEW WITH VASCO FREITAS

by Rehana Nurali

Vasco Freitas loved to play football and to surf so it never crossed his mind to work as a hairstylist. It all began when he was 15 surrounded by his father’s barber tools and using his friends’ hair to experiment.

Now his passion for the job combined with his talent made him the Portuguese professional in the fashion industry who apart from models has been working more internationally wise.

Vasco just finished an incredible season at the Fashion Weeks. New York, Paris, Milan, you name it, he did it all. Working for designers like Dolce & Gabbana, Prada, Versace, Valentino, Givenchy, Louis Vuitton, Lanvin, Sacai, Alexander Wang, Victoria Beckham, Marc Jacobs, Bottega Veneta and Fenty x Puma.  Side by side with names like Luigi Murenu, Pat McGrath, Giulio Panciera and Yusef amongst so many others. Besides that he’s on the team for the Victoria’s Secret show. 

You are one of the most successful Portuguese professionals in the area, both nationally and internationally. Recently you had an outstanding season in New York, Milan and Paris fashion weeks. Tell us a bit more about that experience. 

It was very good. In every season there are new designers and the brands themselves change their marketing strategy every time so it’s really great to have the chance to be part of these projects where our job has worldwide repercussion. And as you can imagine it was an enriching experience taking into consideration that I’m constantly training and learning and committed to be on top of everything that’s new in the market so I can always be evolving.

What do you think has changed from the first day you’ve started as a hairstylist till now?

Everything really. I’m a person who’s in constant change. Every 6 months I have new projects and international challenges so I always try to be 100% prepared for it.

What inspires you the most to create?

Travelling is definitely what inspires me the most. Just getting involved with different cultures of the countries I go, whether it’s a business trip or just leisure.

Do you have a mentor or someone you really appreciate in your area?

Luigi Murenu for sure.

You already have a hair salon in Porto. Is it in your plans to open a space in Lisboa?

Yes. I hope 2018 will be the year that I make that happen but in the meanwhile for those who want to put their hair in my hands I’ll be going monthly to a hair salon in Chiado area starting next month.

What do you think should change in the national fashion scene?

Well that’s pretty easy. Instead of designers creating their own brand, the brands themselves should start having their own designers. I think this is the only way we can do something that has an international visibility.

Which international designers do you admire the most?

Each designer has its own singularities and it’s obvious that the best designers play alongside with big Houses in the Fashion Industry. As I said before, every season the brands change their designers, image and concept but despite that I always have my favorites. The designers I admire the most are Raf Simons, The House Valentino and Givenchy.

Is there anyone you would like to work with and haven’t had a chance yet?

Yes. With photographer Steven Meisel.

You´ve been working abroad for some time but do you feel that now was the time you’ve consecrated yourself?

No. I never expected to be consecrated by anything, much less by the fashion industry in Portugal where people have opinions and considerations about myself without even knowing me. Furthermore, I never did this for anyone. I always wanted the best for me and for whoever is with me. So, as for everything else I can just say “I don’t lie to myself”.

As for his prospects for the future Vasco says that most of all he would like to be worldwide the Vasco he is in Portugal. Having in consideration the great guy he is that part is going to be easy. WAM Magazine can’t predict the future but we can state that professionally the top of the world is already counting him in.

JOHN MALKOVICH RELEASES FASHION LINE

Make Your Next Move is the new short film where John Malkovich plays a fictional character named after himself. In the film, Malkovich leaves acting behind to become a fashion designer. But the truth is: the real John Malkovich designed a menswear collection that's available for purchase. 

John Malkovich 

But mixing fiction with reality is not new for the actor. After all, in 1999, he did the same at Being John Malkovich, playing a fictionalized version of himself. And what about designing a collection? You may ask. Also not new, since that he also had a collection called Technobohemian a few years back. 

The project is part of a partnership with the website company Squarespace and the actor, or should we say: fashion designer? While you’re still in doubt check out the collection HERE. 

SS 2107 Collection 

DYNAMIC DUO - AN INTERVIEW WITH FREDERICO MARTINS & RUI ROCHA

A photographer who thought that one day he was going to be an agronomist, a hairstylist who thought that one day he was going to be an actor. This is an interview about two strangers who have become friends and celebrate 10 years of career together. By Mariana Nave and Rehana Nurali.

Maria Rosa shot by Frederico Martins and hair by Rui Rocha.

Determination and resilience are two aspects that best describe Frederico Martins. A self-taught photographer, that has only two courses of photojournalism on his curriculum. He was never an assistant or neither worked for anyone and took his first steps in the industry inspired by his grandparent’s National Geographic. Fashion appears latter, the passion for photography was what took him there. These are the same aspects that can be found in Rui Rocha. The determination of following his true vocation led him to gain courage to go to Miguel Viana (another hairstylist) and ask him if he could assist him at Portugal Fashion. This first step, the decision of taking chances and the team spirit made his career take off.

Even though they were both starting their careers, it was only in 2006 that Frederico and Rui met for the first time, due to an editorial they worked on.

When did you first met?

Frederico: In 2006, comes the first opportunity to photograph fashion. A friend of us created a fashion magazine, at the time it was called Night and Style and later it was changed to 'N Style. This magazine started with us, in Paços de Brandão. A very basic thing in the beginning, however it evolved and the magazine ended up working with Pedro Ferreira, Mário Príncipe, Gonçalo Claro and others.

Rui: It's funny because my first production was with Frederico. Not only was it the first time we worked together as it was the first time each of us worked for an editorial.

How is your dynamic working?

Frederico: There is an understanding between us, we have known each other for a long time and we have always reached consensus because this type of work is a team effort. Obviously, there must always be one that is more leader, but it is a team work and the work is as better as the worst element of the team. So, it’s very important to find someone who has the same level of quality. Rui and I have been friends since that time and still today he’s one of the great friends that I have met in this area.

What inspires you and what people have influenced you?

Rui: I entered this area through my drawing teacher who, during vacations, asked me if I would be interested in going to a salon because she felt that I had the potential for it, so this was a person who marked me. Beyond her, there are several people who have inspired me. Miguel is undoubtedly a great reference and many other colleagues with whom I keep working. I think it's essential to work as a team. I make a lot of it because I can share ideas and find inspiration through the work of my colleagues.

Frederico: There are several people who influenced me and still do. As I come from photojournalism, Peter Lindbergh is an obvious choice and I feel that I have some parallelism with him, the same happens with Dermachelier. There is also an older photographer, that people don’t know so well, Jeanloup Sieff. He was a huge influence for me as well, perhaps the closest one. Obviously, there are more recent photographers that I love for being so different from what I do. I tend to like photographers who are radically different from what I am. In Portugal, obviously Eduardo Gageiro from photojournalism and then are colleagues that I like to follow because there is a healthy competition between us.

But starting a career is not always easy, especially in the fashion industry. “At first I had the equipment issue. It’s always an obstacle, it’s really a big investment”, says Frederico. He also refers he had to manage his family's expectations about what photography was and what he was going to do about his future. Ends by saying that despite this, his biggest obstacle came later when he was already working. “Today I'm 38 years old and I’m doing this, but I could already be doing it with 32. It took me all these years to get here because I’m from Porto and that means we are far away and out of sight. The work had to be much better and the production. That means it wasn’t enough to just get to the shooting with a camera under my arm. I had to build a larger structure. I needed all this to make things move forward and part of the explanation is, undoubtedly, the fact that I'm based in Porto.” For Rui “the real obstacle was time, because things have evolved slowly but that also brought an advantage: consistency. I took a while to get where I am today, working in editorials, brand campaigns and so on. It was a path I had to go through and, besides having some luck, I also worked hard for it. The fact that I succeeded in achieving this consistency is something that makes me pretty happy and proud.”

What was the job that touched you the most?

Rui: To make the Portuguese brand’s campaigns, because having that opportunity was very good. Also, to do my first editorials for Elle, Máxima, Vogue and GQ. Another moment that marked me was to have my team in Portugal Fashion, this started a new stage for me and receiving Isabel Branco's invitation was a gesture of trust.

Frederico: I had several, but there are some jobs that were relevant because they represent career upgrades. I worked for many years with this team from Porto: Fernando Bastos Pereira, Patrícia Lima and Rui Rocha. The APPICAPS’s works that I made to promote Portuguese footwear abroad with Paulo Gonçalves were perhaps some of my biggest showcases. In the fashion industry, the difficulty is exactly this: to have stage or space to show what you do. And through these jobs, I managed to reach other customers in Lisbon and really stand out a bit. N 'Style was also really important in a earlier stage of my career, as other customers were important. At a later stage, Dsection was a very big leap in international terms.

Despite their obvious friendship and long years of work, they don’t always share the same opinion. And, as far as Portuguese fashion market’s is concerned, they couldn’t have a more different opinion. For Frederico, “competition is low, the level of exigency is also low, so it's easy to reach a very high level in Portugal. The difficulty begins when we want to reach international markets, the competitiveness is giant, the evaluation criteria too and, therefore, the segmentation is much narrower. The differences between colleagues are often small fundamental nuances, as there is a much more trained client with a completely different eye. I think that's what we don’t have here, not that we don’t have the talent because we have it. But in Portugal, there is not enough segmentation to filter people and help them grow.” While Rui thinks “we're on a good track, we have so many creative people and, in my area, there are so many talented colleagues too. Not only those who have already been doing this for a few years but also a new generation with great taste and a lot of potential. As at the beginning of my journey I learned by spending a great deal of time searching and being with other people, I value team spirit and the importance of sharing without being afraid that someone will “steal” your work. So, I think this is the path that we should follow regarding the growth of the national market.”

How do you describe 10 years of career?

Rui: This is an area that I really like and I do it with passion. I honestly look back and it seems it all started yesterday.  I feel that everything is still so present and suddenly I realize it's already gone. It has been spectacular, especially the people I’ve worked with. Fantastic people and that really inspire me. Obviously, there are all kinds of people, but I'm lucky, I'm very lucky that this journey is being so good.

Frederico: This is only the beginning, I'm still warming up. I already have some recognition abroad but I can’t say that I am known. However, I think that I’m already a known name inside the niche that is men’s fashion. In the men’s fashion area but not in brands, my fellow photographers know who I am. I already know some of the greatest names like Mariano Vivanco or Matthew Brookes.

When they put into perspective everything they've done and what they intend to achieve in the next few years, they are in the same page. Both believe and want to prove that it is possible to work outside the country and still live in Portugal. “I still haven’t reached anything. What I got so far is just the first step to something bigger. I was once told that it was impossible to work abroad and live in Portugal, just as I was told that it was impossible to work at a high level in Portugal while being in Porto. I have already proven that this impossibility doesn’t exist and know I’m focused on proving that the other one doesn’t exist either”, says Frederico. Rui thinks the same way, “regarding my perspectives for the future, I would like to go abroad and rather than show it to someone else I would like to show myself that I can do it, it’s a personal fulfillment. Although I really like fashion shows, I identify myself more with the editorial side so I would like my international experience to be more related to photography. I also hope to continue working and doing what I like, because I really enjoy working with hair and, regardless of working with the same teams or different ones, I like to feel I am evolving. "

Nowadays, both Frederico and Rui have two consolidated careers. But it's their desire for constant evolution and ambition that ensures that many more things will happen. This will not be the first or the last time we will hear about them. 

BEAUTY - AN INTERVIEW WITH CRISTINA GOMES

More than a makeup professional, she’s an artist. A determined, perfectionist woman and a self-proclaimed feminist. Without fear of saying what she thinks, she frees herself of the society’s chains and finds a way to give more voice to women. We sat down with Cristina Gomes and the result… Well, that you can read below. By Mariana Nave.

Although Cristina has a career of more than 30 years she never stops learning and focusing on her personal development, being responsive to change, “so many years of career are useless, we have different challenges every day and we always have to start over again”.

Easy going and slightly carefree confesses that makeup happened without planning. “I started at an architecture college but didn’t finished the course. After that I took several classes through EEC – European Economic Community. One of those courses included makeup, in fact, it was more about special effects than common makeup.” However it was aviation that fascinated her: “if I wasn’t a makeup artist I wanted to be a pilot”, confesses. “Of commercial airplanes?”, “Yes, a pilot! That is one of the things I’m pretty sure I would be good at. I also really like mathematics and everything that’s related to it. Maybe I would choose a career based on mathematics or something like that”.

She guarantees she never lied to a client and that there aren´t difficult faces to makeup but difficult people, due to their personalities. When questioned about the definition of beauty, she admits that it's in everyone, whether a person is 18 or 80 years “there’s always something that stands out. It can be the shape of the mouth, the eyelashes or even the skin. There’s always something that is beautiful. My job is to highlight the best features of my client, highlight her strengths. I don’t care if someone doesn’t have a perfect mouth, it’s my job to make it look good and if it doesn’t it’s my fault. In the end, we need to tell people what’s good about themselves and not the other way around. Beauty is love, is what we like: quem feio ama, bonito lhe parece (beauty is in the eye of the beholder).  

What do you like the most about your job?

What I like the most is also what I dislike, there’s no timetables. Our life is unpredictable, our job is unpredictable. It can be and is different every day, which also becomes very exhausting. There is not much freedom because we can’t predict anything. On the other side there’s a huge advantage because we meet a lot of extraordinary people.

And what do you dislike the most?

There’s no one more insecure than me, I’ve been working for more than 30 years with some of the most beautiful women in the world. And not only do I work with some of the most beautiful women, I also have to make them even prettier. My term of comparison is of a tremendous injustice for any woman, they’re models, presenters, extremely beautiful women. Something like that affects my self-esteem, maybe that’s the one thing I find a bit harsh about my job. I try to not think about it of course, otherwise I would go crazy. We must learn to live with that.

When questioned about what inspires her, she demystifies: “My job has a creative side like all others, but it’s not the creativity peak I always work for the client, I can’t just do what I want all the time. As a makeup artist I can either follow one path or another, but at the end the client makes the final decision. So when people say that this is a type of art, that’s not entirely true. Like any other job there’s a goal and it can be commercial, editorial, for an event, etc. The person for who I’m working must be satisfied.”

But would you like to start a project of your own? That way the final decision would always be yours.

No, I like this challenge of being evaluated all the time. It satisfies me knowing that the person I’m working for is happy. It has given satisfaction throughout the years.

Cristina confesses that she doesn’t wear makeup on a daily bases. Her beauty routine is actually very simple “I wash my face and use a moisturizing cream”. However, one of her main priorities is to use solar protective moisturizer every day. “I have a lot of caution with the sun, it’s really dangerous and not only in the summer. The sun also burns in the winter and it’s responsible for 80% of skin ageing, at a fast speed. Portuguese women need to be more careful with the sun, not only because it ages the skin but also dries it out”.

Prospects for the future?

I have to make choices about what I do, therefore I would not open an atelier. Opening an atelier means that I would have to focus on only one part of my profession and would end up losing the others variants. If I only focus on advertising, I lose the fashion part of my job. Therefore we can’t predict how our life is going to be like, we do not have work schedules in advance. But for the first time I would like to maybe get associated with a brand. I always praised my freedom very much and now I have another maturity, as such I would like to associate myself with a brand. To be some kind of an ambassador, here in Portugal, to take a brand and do my interpretation of it, add something to it, present the best products, how to get the best of each one, all the things you can do with them and so on.

With conviction, she ends the interview referring how she admires women: “my best friends are women, the majority of human beings that I admire are women. We have the capacity to endure suffering and giving that men don’t”.

GOLDEN AGE

Eight gorgeous new faces from We Are Models Agency featured on Vogue Portugal online. 

According to Vogue, Sigrid Vieira, Ana Miguel, Inês Carvalho, Gabriela Rodrigues, Prisca Besson, Maria Rosa, Cláudia Runcan and Beatriz Silva are some of the youngest new faces that we should keep an eye on. 

Captured by the lenses of Celso Colaço and styled by Cláudia Barros, the result is an editorial inspired by the golden age paintings. 

To see the full story go to:

http://www.vogue.pt/moda/pessoas/detalhe/golden-age?ref=HP_Destaque

SEEING DOUBLE - INTERVIEW JONATHAN & KEVIN SAMPAIO

"When life gives you a twin brother, go out there and rock the world". This could be the beginning of the following interview, but it isn't, at least not for these twins. From small town kids to international runway models, there is more to tell besides what most of us think. Get to know the story of Sampaio Twins and how they had to fight to overcome life obstacles. By Mariana Nave.

You were born in France but moved to Portugal. Do you remember that?

Kevin: Yes I remember that, I was six years old when I moved to Portugal with my parents and brother.

Jonathan: My parents were Portuguese emigrants in France but always wanted to comeback to their country. I remember the day we move, we did the journey driving from France to Portugal just looking for a better life. I also remember the first day we arrived to Portugal at my grandmother house, everything was new for us. Everything was very beautiful, the weather was amazing. I have a lot of good memories from my childhood and from my first days in Portugal.

How was it for you?

Jonathan: It was wonderful! I had a lot of family in Portugal (cousins, uncles, grandparents) and the idea of being near all of them plus the excitement of a "new life" was great.

Kevin: It was good, I have good memories of Portugal, my grandmother was there as well as my father's side family so it was very exciting for me to move there.

How do you describe your connection to the village where you grew up?

Jonathan: We grew up between a small city named Felgueiras and a little village named Arnozela where my grandparents are from. I was very happy in the village because I had a lot of liberty and for two kids like me and my brother, full of energy, it was perfect! We could run, play with other kids (fighting sometimes with them too), have adventures, create or own games. At the village I had the chance to be happy.

Kevin: The connection to that village is really strong, I grew up there. I only have good memories from that village, it's a wild and beautiful place at the same time. I remember when I was young I use to ride horses with my grandfather, swim in the river, climb trees, hiking in the middle of the forest, hunt, play soccer with my cousins. Today I realize how lucky we were to be a part of that village.

A memory you never forgot?

Kevin: My childhood.

Jonathan: And the education that we had from our parents and grandparents. That made me the man I am today.

How often do you talk with your family? 

Jonathan: Everyday!

Kevin: I talk to my brother and parents everyday, the rest of my family we try to talk at least every week. It's hard to talk to everyone because I have a really big family.

How is the relationship with them?

Jonathan: I have a very good relationship with all of my family and I know I can count on them for anything that I need.

Kevin: Me and my family are very close, our relationship is great. We’re all raised in a way to always be close to each other and never let one of us go down. If one has a problem, we all have a problem. My parents always told me that family is the most important thing in life because they will always be there for you.

As twins how is your connection? 

Kevin: Me and my twin brother have a connection that is impossible to describe, only who has a twin brother will understand, it’s really, really strong. My brother is a part of me and I’m a part of him. We did fought a lot as kids but I think it's normal, specially with twins.

Jonathan: Our connection is very strong and very hard to explain simply because not everyone has the chance to experience it.

What's your mother's role in your life? 

Jonathan: My mother is a symbol of strength, not only for her life story as for the education she gave us, full of values and principles.

Kevin: She is an example that I try to follow, she always gave me the best advice, she brought me to this world so she’s everything to me. She’s always there when I need, she is the cornerstone of my life and I'm the person that I am today because of her and my father. Also they always made me follow the right path, they taught me to have values, morals and principles.

Would you like to come back to Portugal?

Jonathan: Of course, it’s my country.

Kevin: I would love to come back to Portugal one day. Right now it's hard because I’m working in New York. Also my life is there, I have a lot of opportunities in that amazing city so I have to be there. Every time I have the chance I go to Portugal either in holidays or for work. 

At what age did you start working?

Kevin: I started working really young, I think at 12. But it was normal for me because my father had a business so I had to work and help him.

Jonathan: I’ve always worked in my life. I started working on my father's business, not full time of course but I started learning and helping him from a very young. I tried a lot of different jobs as I was growing up. They were experiences, some of them were good, others not so much.

What did you do before fashion?

Jonathan: I was studying sports sciences in the university and working at the same time.

Kevin: Before fashion I was also studying and working, fashion came into my life when I was 17 but I had to study so I couldn't be focus on modeling at that time.

When you started modelling were there any obstacles?

Kevin: Yes, when we started modeling the beginning was hard, nobody in Portugal believed in us and nobody wanted to work with us. Also we’re studying so it was hard for us to come to Lisbon all the time to go to castings.

Jonathan: Apart from us that believed in ourselves, in our potential, no one else did. Internationally we had the chance to start with the biggest brands and we need to be thankful to all for believing on our potential and presenting us to all the Italians brands. 

How was your evolution?

Kevin: I think things happened naturally. We were very lucky to get scouted by an agency in Milan and they were very persistent about Jonathan and I going to Milan. We end up by going for the men's fashion week and it was a success. We did a really good season, we worked with a lot of big brands like Dolce&Gabbana, Versace, Dsquared and that was the beginning of everything. After that we went to Paris to work with Dior exclusively, then Givenchy and we never stopped until today.

Jonathan: I think it was very good. Year after year we were working with the best brands all over the world. 

What features stands you out from other models?

Jonathan: My personality. I have a very strong character and of course the fact of having a twin is always a plus as well.

Kevin: I think our personality and attitude makes the difference. In this world being beautiful is not enough, you need to be very strong mentally and ready for a long battle, you need to have something that others don't have or something that make the clients want to work with you.

Regarding your past, have you ever consider fashion and modelling?

Jonathan:  Never.

Kevin: No I didn't, fashion came into my life in a natural way. 

In what way fashion has influenced you? 

Jonathan: When I started modelling I never expected to go so far. The fact of being traveling all over the world forced me to grow up earlier. The responsibility of living by myself and do everything by myself helped me to become a different man.

Kevin: Fashion helped me to become who I am today. Everything I have is because of fashion, this world opened a lot of doors for me. I think when you start traveling very young you open your mind and start to see things in a different way. In a certain way it helped me to become more responsible and mature, I had nobody to tell me what was wrong or not, what I have to do or not, I had to learn everything on my own so that made me grow even more.

Best professional advice you've ever received?

Jonathan: Always be professional on your work. And that’s something that I always did in everything that I work on.

Kevin: Be yourself, professional, on time, nice to everyone, humble and always do a great job.

What was your favorite work so far? 

Jonathan: My first fashion show ever, it was for Dolce&Gabbana and I was very nervous. It was an incredible experience which I had the chance to repeat for many years.

Kevin: I think my favorite work until today was also my first show for Dolce&Gabbana, it was really fun and exciting, it changed my life so I will never forget it.

What part of the world do you want to visit but you never had the chance?

Jonathan: There are a lot of places, the world is huge. But if I have to choose: Japan, Maldives and Australia.

Kevin: I really want to go to Thailand.

Can you name a few photographers, stylists or designers that you would love to work with?

Jonathan: I had the opportunity to work with almost all the biggest photographers and stylists but I would love to work with Steven Meisel and Karl Lagerfeld. They are two big names that I admire, for their work and personality.

Kevin: Well I’ve been really blessed in my career, I’ve been working with a lot of people that I wanted to work before. As photographer I've to choose Steven Meisel and also I would like to work with the stylist Karl Templer.

If you had the chance to change anything on the fashion industry what would it be?

Jonathan: I would change all the campaigns with unhealthy models.

Kevin: If I could change something I would create again a generation of Super Models as in the 90’s. Fashion industry needs that again, models as Cindy Crawford, Claudia Schiffer, Mark Vanderloo, Tyson Beckford, Naomi Campbell are icons and nowadays we don't have a generation of super models as strong as them.

 Plans or projects for the future?

Kevin: I have a lot of projects for the future, big things, I just don't like to talk about it before they happen so for that reason I’m not saying anything about it but soon I will have great news to tell you.

Jonathan: A lot of projects you will hear about it.

Curiosities

What inspires you?

Jonathan: My life story.

Kevin: Music, fashion, art and my familly.

Book you're reading?

Jonathan: 48 Laws of Power.

Kevin: The 48 Laws of Power.

Favorite movie?

Jonathan: The Godfather and Scarface

Kevin: Goodfellas.

Favorite music or artist?

Jonathan: Tupac, Keep Your Head Up.

Kevin: Nina Simone, Madonna, Jay Z, P Diddy, Andrea Bocelli.

Guilty pleasure?

Jonathan: Francesinha, a typical portuguese dish.

Kevin: Chocolate and yogurt ice cream.

What's the thing that you never leave at home?

Jonathan: My kneckless.

Kevin: My phone.

When you're not modelling what do you like to do?

Jonathan: Sports like karate, soccer, ect.

Kevin: Boxing, painting, listening to music, reading and spending time with my familly.

What are you proud of?

Jonathan: Everything that I conquer on my profession and my education.

Kevin: Proud of my career and my familly.