Taking to the runway at ModaLisboa, visionary creator Valentim Quaresma presented DISTOPIA, a potent and theatrical Spring/Summer 2027 collection that transforms fashion into an unapologetic act of defiance. Amid Lisbon’s buzzing fashion schedule, the presentation stood out as a visceral exploration of the boundary where wearable art, contemporary jewelry, and conceptual fashion collide.
Our journey to ModaLisboa was once again made unforgettable thanks to our friends at APICCAPS Portugal, whose relentless work spotlights the extraordinary craft, legacy, and design innovation of Portuguese footwear and accessories on the global stage.
With DISTOPIA, Quaresma bypasses sterile, tech-heavy tropes of the future, posing instead an urgent existential question:
“What if the future is not a place we are moving towards, but a reflection of what we are building today? DISTOPIA emerges from an unsettling vision of a world where individuality is progressively replaced by uniformity. The body becomes the medium for a narrative about power, fear and freedom… When everything around us tries to define who we are, getting dressed can become an act of resistance and, perhaps, in a dystopian world, fighting to preserve our individuality is the last form of freedom.”
Trained in jewelry at Lisbon’s prestigious Ar.Co and celebrated for two decades of collaborative creations for Ana Salazar before launching his own label, Quaresma approaches garments not simply as clothing, but as sculptural armor. Central to his practice is aggressive material experimentation and high-concept upcycling—repurposing everyday objects, found industrial components, and tactile fragments into avant-garde accessories and body pieces.
On the runway, the human form became a battleground between oppressive uniformity and sovereign self-expression. Intricate, tactile metalwork and deconstructed silhouettes framed the models like modern survivalists, each look asserting a deeply personal identity against a world driven toward conformity.
The atmospheric charge of the presentation was documented both on the catwalk and behind the scenes through sharp, dynamic imagery: runway moments were captured by Alexandre Azevedo, while the tension and craft backstage were lensed by Luís Miguel Fonseca, both capturing the collection for ModaLisboa powered by CANON.
Valentim Quaresma @valentimquaresma
ModaLisboa @lisboafashionweek
Runway Photography: Alexandre Azevedo / ModaLisboa powered by CANON
Backstage Photography: Luís Miguel Fonseca @luismigueldcf for ModaLisboa powered by CANON
Special Thanks: APICCAPS Portugal / Portuguese Shoes @portuguese_shoes
