Portuguese designer Ana Margarida Feijao (@anamargaridafeijao) uses fashion as a medium to explore the female experience and her cultural heritage. She explains that Parsons School of Design's MFA Fashion Design and Society program drew her in with its "focus on social change and justice." Her designs critically address themes such as oppression, sexualization, and restrictive identities imposed on women.
Feijao's collection draws inspiration from Portuguese architecture and photographer Artur Pastor's images of women, reflecting the evolution of women's roles across time. She creates wearable sculptures by draping fine yarns over exaggerated hourglass forms—a symbolic representation of her personal experience with hair loss and femininity. Meanwhile, plaster pieces in her work function as protective armor, offering a layer of defense.
For Feijao, fashion serves as a medium for self-healing. "Even if not everyone fully understands my work, I can heal myself through fashion," she says. Her pieces, born from the intersection of Parsons' social-justice-oriented curriculum and Portuguese cultural heritage, offer profound reflections on women's bodies and identities. Through her work, she challenges conventional narratives and invites viewers to reconsider the roles and restrictions placed upon women throughout history.
Feijao's collection draws inspiration from Portuguese architecture and photographer Artur Pastor's images of women, reflecting the evolution of women's roles across time. She creates wearable sculptures by draping fine yarns over exaggerated hourglass forms—a symbolic representation of her personal experience with hair loss and femininity. Meanwhile, plaster pieces in her work function as protective armor, offering a layer of defense.
For Feijao, fashion serves as a medium for self-healing. "Even if not everyone fully understands my work, I can heal myself through fashion," she says. Her pieces, born from the intersection of Parsons' social-justice-oriented curriculum and Portuguese cultural heritage, offer profound reflections on women's bodies and identities. Through her work, she challenges conventional narratives and invites viewers to reconsider the roles and restrictions placed upon women throughout history.
FAQ
Which school did Ana Margarida Feijão graduate from?
Ana Margarida Feijão graduated from Parsons MFA Fashion Design and Society. She was drawn to apply because the program offers a curriculum focused on social change and justice within fashion education.
What themes do Ana Margarida Feijão's designs address?
Ana Margarida Feijão's designs critically address women's oppression, sexual objectification, and restrictive identity. Inspired by Portuguese architecture and Artur Pastor's photography of women, she reflects evolving feminine roles across eras in her work.
What do Ana Margarida Feijão's wearable sculptures symbolize?
Her wearable sculptures feature delicate thread draped over exaggerated hourglass forms, symbolizing her personal experience with hair loss and femininity. The plaster-cast pieces function as protective armor, embodying her philosophy of fashion as a medium for self-healing.
