Nilda Borralho won 1st place and Isadora Silva 3rd place in a contemporary reinterpretation of Lagos's cultural heritage.
Five former students from the Bachelor's degree in Fashion and Textile Design and Production at Instituto Superior Manuel Teixeira Gomes (ISMAT) participated in the 2026 edition of the «Banho 29» Traditional Swimwear Competition in Lagos.
Nilda Borralho won 1st place and Isadora Silva 3rd place, in an edition that also featured entries from Célia Silva, Joana Jesus, and Natalia Mestre. Held on August 29 at Jardim da Constituição, the competition was part of the Banho 29 Festival, a celebration deeply rooted in local memory and identity.
In the Fashion and Innovation category, the challenge was to reinterpret traditional swimwear, bridging historical inspiration with a creative and contemporary vision.
Relevance to the theme, originality, creativity, harmony, and aesthetics were the evaluation criteria for the entries.
The participation of the five graduates highlighted the strong connection between fashion design education and the region's cultural heritage.
By revisiting traditional swimwear, the competition opened space to explore new ideas and demonstrate how design can help keep traditions alive while imbuing them with new meanings.
For ISMAT, following the journey of its alumni is also a way of recognizing the paths each creates beyond academic training. These initiatives offer an opportunity to share work with the community and bring visibility to diverse creative perspectives.
ISMAT congratulates Célia Silva, Isadora Silva, Nilda Borralho, Joana Jesus, and Natalia Mestre for their participation and presented work, extending special recognition to Nilda Borralho and Isadora Silva for their distinctions.
