Last month, Australia sent five of its finest to New York City. Now it's Brazil's turn. This Wednesday, four Brazilian labels made their NYC debut, including the winner of this season of Brazil's Project Runway. Among those in the crowd at the new Hôtel Americano was Alexandre Herchcovitch, one the best-known exports from Brazil's growing $60 billion fashion industry.  

Part of the Ponto Zero initiative founded in 2008 to bring emerging Brazilian talent to the international stage, the event featured four veterans of the program in a group show. Arnaldo Ventura opened the show with a mix of futuristic printed bodysuits with rich brocades, kimono cuts, and military details. The duo of Isadora Zendron and Lucas Devitte offered an unusual blend of flirty and grandma in their matted felt cocoon coats, baby doll dress, and nipple covering breastplate necklaces, while Gabriela Sakate presented a chic, architecturally minded collection of creamy boucle suits and dresses with linear swaths of sheer fabric inspired by the lights of Paris at night. The real highlight was Cynthia Hayashi, who showed ten of the looks that recently won her the latest edition of Projeto Fashion TV, Brazil’s edition of Project Runway. Her sharp-cut suits in rippled mauve eco-leather, inspired by the muscles of bodybuilders, made a powerfully feminine impression.

Arnaldo Ventura

Photographed by Dan Lecca

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Cynthias Hayashi

Photographed by Dan Lecca

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Isadora Zendron & Lucas Devitte

Photographed by Dan Lecca

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Gabriela Sakate

Photographed by Dan Lecca

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Backstage

Arnaldo Ventura

Arthur Friedman

Alexandre Herchcovitch

Beto Lago

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Beto Lago

Clayton Cainero

Fabio Souza

Lucas Devitte

Melissa Berkelhammer

Shauna Mei

Suzana Barbosa

Victor Kubicek

Vivian Peres
Photographed by Ryan McCune for Patrick McMullan

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Written by Heather Corcoran