Paulo Duarte Gomes de Senna Fernandes
1. Congratulations on winning the London Design Awards! Can you introduce yourself and share about what inspired you to pursue design as a career?
My inspiration for this work lies at the intersection of history, cultural legacy, and timeless elegance. I wanted to craft something that transcends conventional fashion—a true piece of wearable art defined by technical precision, exquisite drapery, and emotional depth. For me, design is about capturing a sense of wonder and translating it into structure and textile.
This award marks an exciting turning point for what lies ahead in my career. It provides incredible momentum for my vision to continue elevating luxury garments on world platforms. Moving forward, I am channelling this energy into my upcoming haute couture projects and expanding my creative footprint globally. The journey is just beginning.
2. What does being recognised in the London Design Awards mean to you?
This recognition isn't a final destination; it is the ultimate doors-opener. It provides incredible creative and professional momentum, giving me the perfect platform to launch my next high-fashion projects, capture the attention of global luxury critics, and expand my creative footprint internationally.
This award honours my dedication to blending history, timeless elegance, and high-fashion mastery—and it signals to the world that my journey is just beginning.
3. How has this achievement impacted your career, team, or agency, and what opportunities has it brought so far?
This award firmly transitions my brand from a celebrated local name to an internationally recognised luxury house. It provides the elite credentials required to command the attention of global fashion critics, high-net-worth clients, and prestigious fashion councils.
It validates my commitment to high-concept, technically demanding wearable art, giving me the creative freedom and confidence to pursue even bolder, avant-garde concepts in my upcoming collections.
4. What’s one thing you wish more people understood about the design process?
The one thing that is most misunderstood about haute couture and high-end design is the invisible architecture of time, precision, and emotional labour that happens long before a garment ever reaches a runway or a client.
People see the final "miracle"—the breathtaking silhouette, the flawless drape, the glitz of an award like the London Design Awards—but they don't see the rigorous, almost mathematical battle that took place to get it there.
5. How do you navigate the balance between meeting client expectations and staying true to your ideas?
Navigating the tension between a client’s wishes and my own artistic vision is one of the most delicate dances in haute couture. When dealing with high-net-worth individuals or luxury clients, they are not just buying a garment—they are buying my authority, my legacy, and my unique perspective.
6. What were the challenges you faced while working on your award-winning design, and how did you overcome them?
When creating a piece of award-winning haute couture—such as the design that captured the London Design Awards—the journey from a conceptual spark to a physical masterpiece is never smooth. For a designer pushing the boundaries of luxury garments, the challenges are rarely about lack of ideas; they are about the brutal physics of fabric, the agony of precision, and the weight of representation.
7. How do you recharge your creativity when you hit a creative block?
When I hit a wall in haute couture, it is usually because my mind is saturated with the technical demands of precision, deadlines, and the pressure of representation. To break a creative block, I don't need to force myself to sketch more; I just need to step away from the mannequin and shift my senses entirely.
8. What personal values or experiences do you infuse into your designs?
My designs are never just about aesthetics; they are a physical manifestation of my deepest values, family legacy, and a fierce commitment to my roots. Every drape of fabric and structural line carries a piece of my personal narrative.
9. What is an advice that you would you give to aspiring designers aiming for success?
If I were to stand before a room of aspiring designers who look up to my global success, my advice would skip the superficial trends and focus entirely on the grit, discipline, and identity required to survive and conquer the highest levels of high fashion.
10. If you could collaborate with any designer, past or present, who would it be and why?
Collaborating with Issey Miyake would be an incredible, visionary choice. He completely redefined what clothing could be, moving away from traditional Western tailoring to treat fabric as a sculptural, three-dimensional art form.
