Portugese Clarisse da Silva Amarim, is possibly the most beautiful woman you have ever seen in person. She’s one of those terrifying Europeans who just oozes disdainful cool. She is described as the ‘The girl in bright colours’ and is sitting in the corner of the studio, submerged in her work. She wears her masses of dark hair down, a mustard floral print shirt (which has a kind of 70’s vibe), and washed out blue jeans which are low enough to reveal a stretch of olive skin when she moves.
Indeed, it’s her use of colour which she says is her unique selling point as a designer. She uses bright colours, prints, textures and mixes them “But it looks nice” she reassures through a thick accent. Her own personal style of colours and clean shapes is reflected in her collection of menswear, which was inspired by the sea and fishermen “similar to how Chanel converted sailor’s jackets into women’s jackets. But for men”
Clarisse barely lifts her eyes as she sews; only pausing to reflect on her work. That is until talking about her vision for her collection “Yes! It changes all the time! Everyday!” she exclaims, rolling her eyes theatrically. However this has nothing to do with influence from current collections “I don’t know what anyone’s doing, I haven’t even seen anything from London Fashion Week. I’ve been too busy with all of this” She gestures to the chaos around her. “I’m inspired by people that are around today, I always keep a camera in my bag. And films, I watch a lot of films. I think about the characters, their personalities and what they would wear”. In fact, she’s been so consumed by her collection she hasn’t even heard of Galliano, but shrugs as if it’s nothing out of the ordinary, which summarises her completely- every inch the worldly European, shocked by nothing and interested in everything.
