Calçado Penha makes its debut at ModaLisboa
The Portuguese footwear company, which specialises in the production of high-quality men’s footwear, made its debut on a Fashion Week catwalk with the BÉHEN brand
“It’s not easy to find the right partners for a brand like BÉHEN”. This motto comes from Joana Duarte, head of the BÉHEN brand, known for its commitment to celebrating and protecting traditional Portuguese craftsmanship. At the last edition of ModaLisboa, where she is a regular presence, the designer launched her partnership with Calçado Penha on the catwalk.
“There are criteria that we can’t abandon in this search because of our values and mission. Some are tangible, such as extreme quality, fair production or exemplary raw materials, and others are more difficult to qualify, such as empathy, generosity and, if we’re honest, a bit of adventurous spirit on the part of those who want to embark on this journey with us”.
The men’s looks in the NÃO TE QUERO collection were then designed by Calçado Penha, a 57-year-old company specialising in the production of high-quality men’s footwear.
It was the company's first time at a fashion week: “It was a challenge for Penha and, above all, a pleasant surprise! The invitation was received with great enthusiasm”, says Estela Novais. “Not only were we invited to Moda Lisboa, one of the highlights of Portuguese fashion”, “but we would be there in partnership with Joana! It was very gratifying to see our shoes on the catwalk with BÉHEN”.
“When we met the Calçado Penha team, we knew we would be working with the right people”, explains Joana Duarte. “We needed the shoes for the men’s looks in the NÃO TE QUERO collection to be impeccable moccasins and to reflect the creative process we apply to all our pieces: manufacturing, attention to detail, materials such as leather and cork from certified sources and of the highest quality”.
For Calçado Penha, the link between designers and the footwear company is of paramount importance. “I think that any kind of connection and partnership with Portuguese designers is extremely important because we have a lot of quality products and very talented designers who can turn our culture and history into art! Partnerships and links only make us stronger; the products end up complementing each other, in this case, our shoes with Joana’s creations, and very likely reach an audience that wouldn’t otherwise. This is why I believe that these links and partnerships should be a more permanent reality”.
A sentiment echoed by the designer, who admits that “in this partnership, we have found all this and also the joy of working with those who think like us and who are committed to protecting the art of doing things well”.
Source and Image Credits: portugueseshoes.pt