SATURDAY, 14 MARCH, 12 PM
Off Location. Access by invitation.
MIRROR, MIRROR ON THE WALL… WHO’S THE CUTEST OF THEM ALL?
Béhen presents a capsule womenswear FW 26/27 collection of core pieces crafted from the finest materials and hand-made techniques. Developed through a demi-couture process, the collection once again demonstrates the studio’s skill and enduring craftsmanship.
It features 100% virgin wool pants and shirts finished with hand-made “cat tails” in soft merino wool, a technique from Nisa, in Alentejo. Skirts and dresses with seven layers draw inspiration from the traditional Nazaré skirts, an iconic Portuguese garment historically worn by women whose husbands went out to sea. Each layer symbolises protection, luck, and the waves of life.
Hand embroidery, a signature of Béhen, is once again celebrated through the use of glass beads, now paired with delicate thin beads. One of the show-stopping pieces is the Catita dress, a silhouette Béhen has been developing for several seasons. Here it is reinterpreted in the spirit of the traditional “Algibeira” from Minho attire, fully covered in glass beads and meticulously embroidered by Joana — a months-long labour of love dedicated entirely to embroidery.
Burel, the traditional material from Serra da Estrela, makes its debut in the collection, transformed into a hoodie using the Nisa “feltro” embroidery technique. Hand-made “lérias” in 100% cotton can also be seen throughout the collection, echoing the artisanal “cat tails” pieces from the Alentejo region.
Another first for Béhen is the incorporation of a technique that is not Portuguese: mirror embroidery from Gujarat. It is crafted by women living in Portugal through the Homelore Project, a collective of women artisans and immigrants who embroider across Lisbon and the country using techniques from their places of origin. Nothing is placed by chance: the mirrors carry symbolic meaning, traditionally believed to ward off the evil eye.
A celebration of women and a continued commitment to the finest materials and details, the collection is made entirely with 100% natural materials — from fabrics to beads — and showcases the studio and team’s finest work, for the cutest of them all.
