Felipe Oliveira Baptista
About
Felipe Oliveira Baptista was born in Portugal in 1975. In 1992, he leaves Lisbon to study fashion design in London. In 1997, he graduates from Kingston University’s Ba Fashion Design Course. Felipe spends a year working for Max Mara in Italy before moving to Paris where he works for Cerruti, Thimister and free lance as a fashion designer, photograph and graphic designer. In 2002, Felipe Oliveira Baptista presents his first collection under his name at the “Festival de Hyeres” where he is the co-winner of the “Grand Prix”. The shop Colette buys this first collection and dedicates it a window during Paris Fashion Week. In 2003, the Felipe Oliveira Baptista label is officially launched. With the help of the burserie, one from ANDAM and a second from the LVMH Group. Both awarded to help launch and finance the first collection and show in Paris.in 2005, Felipe is again awarded two andam burseries. In the same year, Felipe is invited to join the official calendar of Paris Haute Couture Collections. For the past five seasons Felipe has been showing a mix of his Pret-á-porter and Couture Collections.
The Look
Choosing a simple color palette of black and white, Baptista mixed Grecian looks with contemporary silhouettes, a sure sign that his target market was the younger and/or future couture clients. Kimono inspired dresses, draped voluminously and halter gowns with flared skirts, off the shoulder dresses rolled at the hem and trench coat pantsuits showed off Baptista’s creativity and vision. Call it street couture if you want, because there is also a touch of hip-hop in the collection. The collection is interesting enough to the attendees, but one element was missing and it was the most important – haute couture. With a high percentage of the garments machine made, the legends that made haute couture, i.e., exquisite hand embroidery and beading, and the designer’s hands-on work were sorely omitted.