Bio -
Julia Van der Leij is an Italian-Brazilian fashion designer based in Milano who loves experimenting with new materials and doing manual crafts from embroidery, to felting, to drawing. In her spare time she enjoys going to the cinema and museums. The designer is always trying to learn new things and improve her skills. She earned a BA from FAAP (Brazil) and is currently finishing an MA in Fashion design at Marangoni.
Interview -
Interview -
Please share a bit about your journey to embrace fashion design as a career. Looking back, were there any early signs fashion would be your future?
I was born and raised in Brazil, growing up I always knew I was going to work in a creative area. Fashion was always a passion of mine, even when I was a kid I used to keep up with the latest runway shows online and flip through fashion magazine pages looking forward to the editorials. I still remember when the Devil wears Prada came out and how mesmerized by all of it I was. I decided to pursue a fashion education at the last moment of high school, it was a decision that seemed like it took a long time to figure out but was always in the back of my mind.
I did my Bachelor degree at FAAP, a Brazilian arts university where I studied Fashion. I started university right after I graduated high school in 2020, I had two years of online school and in that time I took the opportunity to take a few online courses with international artists that really helped me improve my abilities. I love manual work and always tried to push myself to learn new things. In 2024 I moved to Milan to continue studying. I enrolled in the Masters of Fashion Design (Womenswear/Menswear) program at Marangoni, presenting my thesis early this year.
Who are you as a designer? Aesthetic? Customer? Brand?
I'm a maximalist at heart, more is more. I love embroidery, mixing different textures and colors and have a lot of fun with coming up with ideas for styling. I'd ultimately say my style is kitsch and dramatic, I love adding playful elements to my creations. I believe fashion should always be fun, thought provoking and a bit theatrical, but ultimately, a form of expressing yourself in bold unapologetic ways.
What comes easiest for you as a designer? What is hardest?
As a small designer without a team or investment other than my own, it's hard to know when to stop, measuring what is actually possible to do. Conceptualizing is easy, the development part not so much, especially when it all depends on you and your limited budget. Time can really seem like it is against you.
I'd say inspiration can come from anywhere. From a movie that I've seen, a book I've read, images I've seen online or in real life, feelings I've had, art, design, history and fashion itself. I use color largely and unapologetically, it helps tell a narrative and it is responsible for unifying the collection.
Readers would love to know more about the collection you are showing at Vancouver Fashion Week FW 26. (Inspiration, fabrics, palette, etc.) Do you have a favorite look in this collection?
The inspiration from this collection came from the feeling of Anemoia. A feeling of nostalgia for a time and/or place you haven't lived. I wanted to emulate that feeling throughout my collection, especially with the felted pieces. The materials used in the creation of this collection came from various different places. Most from Brazil and Italy, but also Peru, France and the US. I really wanted to gather special fabrics that helped construct the narrative of this project.
Where can readers purchase your designs?
Unfortunately they can't yet. I'm working on future possibilities of made to measure pieces.
What's next for you as a designer and your brand?
I’d love to keep growing as a designer, evolving with my style and techniques. I'd like to gain more work experience before fully opening my own brand.
Collaboration between the Brazilian sculptural jewelry designer Paola Vilas and the
Grammy-nominated American duo Sofi Tukker, for their third studio album "BREAD"
Links -
- Instagram - @julia.vanderleij
- Behance - www.behance.net/juliavanderleij
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