AFTER A PROPOSAL FOR A COLLECTION AT MODA LX (ON MARCH 9TH), FROM OPPOSITE PREMISES – FREEDOM TO DRESS, FREEDOM TO CREATE AND FREEDOM TO REINVENT TRADITIONS – THE DESIGNER CELEBRATES EXPERIMENTATION, ERROR AND QUESTIONING OF PRE-ESTABLISHED RULES.
She was born in Lisbon. She lived in London for six years, where she graduated in Textile Design from the prestigious Central Saint Martins, and worked for Marques’Almeida and Peter Pilotto. In 2017, she became the designer of Balmain, under the creative direction of Oliver Rousteing in Paris, and launched her brand at ModaLisboa, where she presented the first solo collection for the summer of 2018. This year she does it again, leaving her signature, at the emblematic Portuguese fashion week.
In an interview, we confirm our real fascination for this Woman, who has the pure gift of creativity mirrored in the eyes …
I.A. – WHERE DID THE PASSION FOR THE FASHION UNIVERSE COME FROM?
C.E – It appeared in a very natural way … Since very little i’ve had several notebooks where i drew looks for various characters that i created. However, my true passion is for textiles, and that was actually the course I took. And it was through this passion that I began to explore fashion design.
I.A. – WERE LIVING IN LONDON AND GRADUATING AT CENTRAL SAINT MARTINS (IN TEXTILE DESIGN) FUNDAMENTAL FOUNDATIONS TO REALISE EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANTED?
C.E – It was very important, both professionally and personally. I grew a lot, I learned from the best, it was not always easy, but it was worth it. Saint Martins is much more than a university, it is a place of constant sharing and exchange of ideas and a lot of creativity, but at the same time, it also teaches us that to err is human and that only those who try and are persistent can reach somewhere.
“I grew a lot, I learned from the best, it was not always easy, but it was worth it. Saint Martins is much more than a university, it is a place of constant sharing and exchange of ideas and a lot of creativity, but at the same time, it also teaches us that to err is human and that only those who try and are persistent can reach somewhere “
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I.A – AS A FASHION DESIGNER, YOU VALUE ALL TYPES OF MERGERS AND COLLABORATIONS BETWEEN ARTISTS AND DESIGNERS, WHICH ARE ESSENTIAL TO EXPLORE THE UNKNOWN AND STIMULATE THE CREATIVITY. IN WHAT WAY HAS HAVING WORKED WITH MARQUES ‘ALMEIDA AND PETER PILOTTO INFLUENCED YOU AS A FASHION DESIGNER AND ARTIST?
C.E – A lot … Very different experiences, but that made me understand how a brand works, the fashion industry and the whole process that involves preparing and making a collection.
I.A. – AT THAT TIME, DID YOU UNDERSTAND IMMEDIATELY THE PATH YOU WANTED TO FOLLOW?
C. Yes. The fact that I graduated and later worked with several designers also helped me realize this.
I.A – WHO IS CONSTANÇA ENTRUDO?
C.E – Young, constantly learning and looking for something new, one who has a seemingly messy look but knows what she wants.
I.A – WHAT ARE YOUR INFLUENCES AND REFERENCES?
C.E – Several. For a long time my greatest references were contemporary artists. Lately I have developed an interest in cinema. Bertolucci has been a great reference and regarding Literature Italo Calvino.
“For a long time my greatest references were contemporary artists. Lately I have developed an interest in cinema. Bertolucci has been a great reference and regarding Literature Italo Calvino.“
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I.A – IN A FAST FASHION MARKET WHERE IT IS NECESSARY TO PRODUCE SEVERAL COLLECTIONS PER YEAR FOR THE BRANDS TO SURVIVE, HOW CAN A DESIGNER IN THE BEGINNING OF THEIR CAREER FIND THE CREATIVE BALANCE VERSUS THE COMMERCIAL ONE?
C.E – I doubt that there is a formula because we all have very different creative and work processes, but in my case, it is the result of a long period of research in libraries, archives, etc.
I.A – CASES LIKE THE SHOCKING DEATH OF THE ENGLISH DESIGNER ALEXANDER MCQUEEN HAVE SHED A LIGHT ON HOW MUCH PRESSURE FROM THE INDUSTRY CAN AFFECT AN ARTIST, TO THE POINT OF COLLAPSE. IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT HAS CHANGED (IN THIS SENSE) UNTIL NOW?
C.E – McQueen was a genius. He would change the industry in any way with his creativity and innovation. Despite being a very intense industry in which we are constantly subjected to a lot of pressure, I believe that in these cases it is the mind and our psychological state speaking louder, and this can happen in any industry, anywhere.
I.A – WHAT DO CONCEPTS SUCH AS ETHICAL FASHION AND SUSTAINABILITY IN FASHION MEAN TO YOU?
C.E – These are very important concepts and although it is often difficult, we should all try to join and contribute, in our way and scale, for the industry to improve.
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I.A – TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOUR FIRST COLLECTION (FOR SUMMER 2018) AND YOUR DEBUT AT MODA LX. WHAT DID YOU FEEL?
C.E – It went very well, I was happy and fulfilled for feeling that after several years abroad, they recognized me and my work, in my country.
I.A. – WHAT WAS THE PRESS AND PUBLIC’S FEEDBACK ?
C.E – It was very positive, even I was surprised in a way.
I.A. WHAT IS YOUR POSITION REGARDING BEAUTY BRANDS TESTING ON ANIMALS? DO YOU HAVE THIS TYPE OF CONCERNS?
C.E – I do. And over time I’ve had more and more. I confess that I do not buy a lot of make-up or creams, it’s usually something that people offer me.
I.A – FOR 2019, WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM THE BRAND CONSTANCE ENTRUDO?
C.E – It remaining faithful to itself.
I.A – HOW DO YOU DEFINE YOUR BRAND?
C.E – Ageless, messy chic, free, “asymmetric”.
I.A. WHAT ARE YOUR SHORT, MEDIUM TERM GOALS?
C.E – To grow in a sustainable way, and keep working on the internationalization process of the brand.
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I.A. – WE CAN’T LEAVE WITHOUT KNOWING HOW IT WAS TO WORK AT MAISON BALMAIN WITH OLIVIER ROUSTEING IN PARIS?
It was a great experience. Many hours of work, very intense, but I learned a lot from him and the whole Balmain team. Olivier is a very present creative director and very close to his team, and this makes us all feel that our contribution to the collections was important.
I.A – PARIS OR LONDON? WHAT DID YOU “ABSORB” THE MOST FROM EACH CITY?
C.E – London. From Paris I “absorbed” technique, rigor, elegance and there I learned to try to seek “perfection” in things. London, it was my school, where I developed my “self” and I knew myself better, where I developed my own style, where I “opened the mind”. No doubt my favorite city and where I plan to return soon.
“LONDON. FROM PARIS I “ABSORBED” TECHNIQUE, RIGOR, ELEGANCE AND THERE I LEARNED TO TRY TO SEEK “PERFECTION” IN THINGS. LONDON, IT WAS MY SCHOOL, WHERE I DEVELOPED MY “SELF” AND I KNEW MYSELF BETTER, WHERE I DEVELOPED MY OWN STYLE, WHERE I “OPENED THE MIND”. NO DOUBT MY FAVORITE CITY AND WHERE I PLAN TO RETURN SOON.”
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I.A – WE NOTICED THAT AT AN ARTISTIC LEVEL YOU VALUE A LOT COLLABORATIONS WITH OTHER DESIGNERS AND ARTISTS. A PORTUGUESE DESIGNER YOU WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH? AND INTERNATIONAL?
C.E – Nike or Adidas. In Portugal, David Ferreira, because we have very different styles but both creative.
I.A – ADVICE FOR THOSE GETTING STARTED …
C.E – “Never give up”. Understand that making mistakes is human and part of the process and progress. Be persistent and be sure of what you want.
MUSIC – “I will always Love you”, Whitney Houston / Canto de Ossanha, Badwell Power.
FOOD – Peking duck.
ICON – Grace Jones.
TRIP – Mozambique.
LIFESTYLE – Very cosmopolitan.
SOCIAL CAUSE – Promotion of social inclusion.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN – Recycling the fabrics / material used in my work. Producing less junk on a daily basis.
INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE – “We always arrive where we are expected.”
We always arrive where we are expected.
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