PINTTA - The designer

Born in New york, USA, in the Big Apple! Fashion was my “sin”, since I remember as a teen-agger I was already on the Cath-walk as a model, an activity I started in the most cosmopolitan area of Portugal – Algarve.

As a « self-made-man » I was hired very young to work in the most prestigious store of the region, where very soon I was promoted to assist the CEO of the Company, to become a kind of Fashion Adviser on what concerned all the contacts with international High-end Brands (Dolce&Gabbana, Gucci, Armani, among other’s).

I needed more freedom… I didn’t knew at the time why I had that feeling…

But with some years in contact with Luxury Brands, I felt, that I would like to make something… I knew deep down in my soul, that my destiny was strongly in connection with Fashion.

The material’s , the model’s , the merchandising gave me all I needed to discover, my real ambition.

PINTTA, was born…

I started with all the contacts. I had, to search of the right and very reliable old time craftmanship with leather in the North of Portugal.

Small structures of production, that still produce the shoes and other leather item’s, using ancient methods. Handmade, made with love, respecting the material’s, the nature, and share with the client my dream.

From there, things went very fast… I produced 2 or 3 prototypes, for my own use, and whore them in my activity as a BUYER for the Company I was working with.

It was, incredible, the feed-back I had from salesmans, Director’s, CEO’s…The question was allway’s the same: « Who produce, your shoes ???? »

I had the answer to those questions, but I needed to create a small structure to face the professional world of Fashion Industry. But in fact I had it, and very soon I created a small collection, that I sold to 2 stores in the Algarve!

Surprise…

Clients came back to me, they’ve had sold the entire collection they’ve bought from me, and they wanted more.

I left my job and put all my soul in PINTTA project, after 2 months of hard work, I was ready to face the serious and very competitive world of International Fashion Industry.

Luis Contreiras