Caroline De Souza the Brazilian Fashion Designer whom has conquered Europe and South America with her exquisite designs. Caroline’s dynamic energy not only travels her creativity overseas from Brazil all the way to Greece;it has plugged in a new empowerment to support fashion at it’ s best with her eco-friendly high quality materials and designs that keep the imagination flowing entering you into a whole new world that has yet to be discovered. Caroline De Souza unleashes her imagination onto her designs that will keep you in awe for a long time with all the effort and thought put into them. We met at the Athenaeum Intercontinental Hotel in Athens on a sunny afternoon, as Caroline walked through the glass doors all I could think about was the glow on her soft caramel skin, her clothes were of her own designs, as soon as we sat down together her incredible personality made you feel at home. Her care free self set you on another journey especially when face to face with her designs at the Caroline De Souza l’ Atelier a heaven for all stars and fashionistas packed with RTW to Red Carpet clothes and statement accessories. With this exclusive interview we find out what her inspirations are and her view on the industry today as a Fashion Designer, her secrets of timeless style, family ties and what the future holds.
SJ: You are such an inspirational figure portraying female empowerment like many well known designers which have managed to build an entire fashion empire. Your ability to start “a fresh” following your “dream in fashion”, it is amazing to see how well your success has flourished in both Brazil & Greece, what was it that kept you strong to get where you are now beside it being something you wanted to pursue, what was your initial support?
CDZ: Ever since I can remember from a very young age I knew what I wanted to do and that was to follow my dreams in Fashion, I knew I was born with it, and I fought for it to happen, to fight for it !that’s the only thing that has made this dream come true… to just keep going up and up!
SJ: What are your memories from your very first fashion show ever and where did that first show take place?
CDZ: Athens Fashion Week at technopolis in 2011 was the first time I felt that I accomplished something. It was the first part of the dream…, I felt like I closed a life circle.
SJ: On your love for eco-fashion which is a slow but thriving element to today’s designers in the industry;, being a fan of the natural world with your own eco-Luxe Line wear with eco friendly fabrics and materials, would the reason for your involvement in this be because of your previous experience as a photographer when you were always surrounded by nature or is this fashion involvement in the well being of the environment because it is a general concern of yours?
CDZ: First thing is the QUALITY of the materials that I works with in order to have a good finish, a quality that doesn’t wear out first and secondly and most importantly is that in Brazil as youngsters we are brought up to recycle, people are educated to save the environment to believe in it and make a change, I personally also believe that if everyone could help out we will definitely see change. I will also be taking part in the first ever DO IT ECO fashion show this year in November that will be showcasing eco friendly designs.
SJ: Can you tell us what makes a R-T-W outfit timeless & fashionable, what piece do you like to include when modelling your designs to portray this?
CDZ: I cannot think or go ahead with something without the perfect pair of shoes, even before the fitting I need to find the right pair of shoes and of course high heels!
SJ: Apart from you experiencing fashion as a designer, what about your earlier years back when you were a model photographer, tell us a little about that, did you enjoy your time as a photographer?
CDZ: As a model photographer I practiced this in Milan, I wanted to help the models both on television and photo but since the beginning during my experience in photography I knew It wasn’t enough , so then I started to work with fabrics as a fashion designer to get further experience, though photography and my career to peruse fashion design helped me get where I am now, because fashion design is what I always wanted to do..
SJ: Staying in reference to the catwalks and models, your creations are going to soon be showcased on the runway during you’re A/W 13.14 collection “kiss the future”, most designers from what we have seen during the latest fashion weeks, they are rebelling against the economic crisis by placing huge emphasis on the craftsmanship of their designs, what would you say is your main emphasis on your A/W collection?
CDZ: My main focus is on good quality, easy to wear and durability, pieces that will always be in fashion as this is what people want clothes that will last forever;, pieces that will continue to last i.e in 5 years for example they will still be in fashion, my other focus is also the Russian Market as the first clothes that sold were to Russian clients that loved my designs.
SJ: Your designs are also very much loved by fashion lovers but also by many names in show-biz’ , I’m also positive on the thought that your presence in Greece certainly brings a lot more excitement into the industry here with your creative energy, what was it that made you choose Greece and not let’s say Italy which was where you started you dream in fashion, was it because of a better advantage in a commercial point of view or something more personal?
CDZ: My main reason for moving to Greece is because I have daughter which was born here and this is where I want her to be grow up . Initially my stay here has helped expand my business in design, but in my mind I don’t feel that I am in Greece , my mind is more centered around the *online market but Greece is also a big market.
SJ: Lastly what is your favorite thing about Greece and is there a possibility that we will be seeing you showcase your clothes in the near future in Cyprus too?
CDZ: For me Greece is the Brazil in Europe it is the best place in the world, with everything going on here I believe it is the best place on earth. My future visit to Cyprus will take place later on this year where a fashion show will be held to showcase my A/W 13.14 collection which can also be found at the INTRICO Boutique Limassol.
There are not enough words to express our gratitude and thank you’s to Caroline De Souza for accepting to do this interview, a memory of this special meeting that we will remember forever which I’m sure the future fashion show here in Cyprus will stand by the same excitement we felt when meeting Caroline. Such an inspirational person, a successful designer in the industry, a hard working but very loving mother to a beautiful daughter, a designer that has attracted many celebrity fans and many fashionites’ because no matter what she designs Caroline manages to makes it sensually but sophisticated and most importantly high quality “clothes that will last forever”. Fashion is altered every six months but with Caroline De Souza’s designs the only guaranteed change you will experience is the weather as her designs remain fashionable and timeless for a lifetime.
SarahJane Kyprianou
Fashion Columnist
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*Visit Caroline De Souza l’Atelier at Aretis 75 Glyfada
16674 Athens, Greece or view the fantastic designs online http://www.carolinedesouza.gr/, Caroline De Souza Designs can also be found at
INTRICO 12E Ay.Zonis Street, 3027, Limassol, Cyprus Tel. 25763763
**A very big thank you to the Athenaeum Intercontinental Hotel Athens-Greece for their very much appreciated hospitality for this interview. (Syngrou Avenue 89-93, Athens 11745, Greece, Tel: 00302109206000)[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]