Luís Buchinho: 35 years in the fashion industry

Spotify

At the age of 14, Luís Buchinho was already dreaming of illustration and fashion magazines. By 16, he had moved to Porto, enrolled in a design course, and, without even realising it, had begun his career in the field. Three and a half decades later, he is now widely recognised for his timeless and sustainable creations that blend seamlessly with the female silhouette.

Originally from Setúbal, the young apprentice Luís Buchinho benefited from the support and courage of his parents. Although they had envisioned a more conventional future for their son, they never stopped believing in his potential and in the viability of a future profession that, at the time, did not yet exist in Portugal: fashion designer. Time and the originality of his creations have proven that it was indeed a wise choice.

Throughout his career — through his work, exhibitions, participation in showrooms and fashion shows in Lisbon, Paris, and other cities — the artist has always placed great value on innovation in his creations. He demonstrates a remarkable capacity for imagination, while preserving the identity of his brand.

Recently, the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, combined with a desire to embrace new projects, led him to debut in the field of comic book illustration and teaching.

Together with João Andrade, he launched the comic book *Sal* in 2022, published by Fundação Cecilia Zino. He is currently also a lecturer at Lusófona University, where he shares his technical knowledge, curiosity, and work excellence with his students. The artist also hopes that they will be able to launch their own brands in a country where the fashion industry is still under-recognised and where, according to him, designers may struggle to secure the necessary investment capital to bring their ideas to life.

Image
Catarina Machado and Paulo Renato

Interview
Catarina Machado

Editing
Paulo Renato

Text
Catarina Machado