“Made in Portugal” has grown in importance globally among the fashion industry in recent years, especially in the textile and shoe industries. Earlier in the month, I visited many showrooms during Paris Fashion Week, and nearly half had pieces made in Portugal. What really stood out wasn’t just the quality, but how designers were proud to say that it was made in Portugal. It carries a lot of weight these days, especially for designers who want to be more transparent on their supply chain and manufacturing.

Thanks to its highly skilled artisans and state-of-the-art factories, Portugal has transformed from a small manufacturing base to a sought-after partner for both major luxury brands and emerging designers. We were interested in how “Made in Portugal” is inspiring the next generation of fashion, so we traveled to ModaLisboa to locate designers whose work exemplifies the creative and industrial possibilities behind the expanding influence, but how do you show shoes?

Portuguese Soul by APICCAPS had an innovative approach to challenge the traditional runway. This edition, dancers took to the stage in Portuguese shoes with consciously sourced materials from a group of innovative brands made up of Ambitious, Campobello, Helena Mar, Miguel Vieira, Penha, and Valuni. Additionally, Portuguese Soul by APICCAPS is within the scope of the Bioshoes4all project, which pushes the industry to reconsider materials, processes, and their effects while opening the door for a new generation of shoes that are more sustainable, circular, and future-ready.

Check it out below: