Photo: Frederico Martins
Boots: Fly London
As he has already been described, we could call him a shape alchemist, a transformer of banalities into relics, a master of materials and an architect of jewellery. The name suits him. In the silence of his atelier, metallic shapes are forged into poetry. In his creative process, rituals that imbue the body with mystery and art are invoked. We are speaking of Valentim Quaresma, a key figure in the national fashion scene whose creativity is rooted in raw materials.
Every item is meticulously crafted down to the finest detail. Whether it’s a mask, a necklace or even an armour piece, each one whispers to the future and echoes the past.
The Portuguese designer has expressed his creativity through fashion and art. After studying at the António Arroio art school and the jewellery department of Ar.Co in Lisbon, he went on to work with one of the biggest names in Portuguese fashion, Ana Salazar. Between 1990 and 2010, he created jewellery and accessories for the designer’s collections.
In an interview with the Portuguese newspaper Público in September 2024, he briefly explains the secret to his art. “Jewellery is made with communication in mind. The body can be, or not be, a support because contemporary jewellery has a process linked to the visual arts and artistic thought. It is not the aesthetic that distinguishes it, but the concept behind it”.
In 2008, Valentim won the “Accessories Collection of the Year” award at the ITS#7 international competition in Trieste, Italy, after which he launched his own brand. Since then, he has been showcasing his work internationally.
A Valentim Quaresma piece can be worn or elevated to the status of a work of art and exhibited in museums around the world.
He joined the official ModaLisboa calendar in March 2011, where he began to present his work on a seasonal basis. At the latest ModaLisboa event, Valentim Quaresma continued to develop a culture of handcrafted work, focusing on objects with a delicate and deeply emotional touch. His respect for detail, time, and raw materials imbues his FW 25/26 collection with an intricate and meaningful character, enabling him to transcend the physical product and create utopian, fantastical worlds.