Taippe

It may still be fresh, but its future is already shaping up to be a success. Today we take a look at Taippe, a new brand on the portuguese scene, full of identity and with a distinctly different approach. Born out of the shared passion of three friends, it has quickly become one of the names to watch in the near future.

Taippe was born during an Erasmus period between two friends. What was that experience like, and how did it influence the creation of the brand?

For me, Erasmus is what I call one of our “maturity leaps.” We all go through a few of those in life, and this was definitely one of mine. It was important for my growth - beyond all the partying - because I had to learn to handle things on my own, with my small circle of friends, which included Molly. Not many people can say they made a lifelong friend during Erasmus. We meet amazing people from all over the world, but staying close is more complicated when we live in different countries - or even continents. Molly and I managed to do that; we always made the effort. That was the biggest influence in creating the brand: I immediately thought of Molly because I followed her work, knew her skills, and she’s always been a huge fashion inspiration for me since the day we met. When you make a decision like this and start building a team, it’s important to choose carefully who joins you on the journey - and Molly was the best choice.

Why did you choose the name Taippe? Does it hold any special meaning?

We chose the name “Taippe” because it reflects how we see fashion - without gender, without looking at color, age, or difference. Fashion is simply another form of personal expression, like many others that exist within the universe of art. Everyone has that right. That’s why our main message is that “Fashion shouldn’t restrain itself to any type of body, age, gender, etc.” The way “Taippe” is written was designed to highlight its portuguese roots - it’s how a portuguese person would pronounce “type” and how that would translate into writing.

What were the biggest challenges you faced when starting the brand, and how did you overcome them?

Finding the right people who were dedicated and willing to work for the brand to grow. The initial phase is tough - getting out of that alley of obscurity, where I think we still partly remain - so it was essential to find people who understand that this isn’t a 9-to-6 job. It’s 24 hours thinking about and communicating Taippe.

Later on, another friend joined the brand. What was that moment like?

Honestly, it was easy. When we interviewed Isabel, Molly and I immediately jumped on a call together, just nodding our heads in agreement. It was pretty intuitive that she was someone who would fit in well with both of us - dedicated and excited to work. Now, a year after Isabel joined the team, I’m glad we followed our intuition.

With three people now involved in the brand, how do you manage ideas, approvals, and different opinions?

Managing people, opinions, and strong personalities with passion for what they do isn’t easy - especially in creative work but from the start, I encouraged Molly and Isabel to share their ideas and visions. It’s not a constant process, but we have excellent harmony when it comes to sharing ideals. Everyone speaks, and everyone is heard; every opinion is considered and reflected upon.

For me, there’s no world where collaboration isn’t part of the daily workflow. Taippe is what it is because there isn’t a single absolute voice - there are three (or more). I don’t see a meeting as productive when everyone agrees; I think it’s healthy to have debate - that’s where the best results are born.

Portugal is internationally recognized for the quality of its textile sector, but many factories set ‘tough’ conditions before accepting projects from emerging brands. What was your experience when launching Taippe?

Initially, Taippe grew within a textile company, which made the creation and production of the collections easier. Now that we’re independent, it’s a matter of reaching out and asking people in the field for their contacts and recommendations. There are still many companies operating in Portugal, and it’s important to give them work before considering alternatives abroad. Being in the North helps a lot, since most of the factories are concentrated in the Vale do Ave region, making it easy for me to get around.

We’re seeing more and more Portuguese brands emerging today. How do you view this phenomenon, and what do you think is driving this growth?

I think it’s fantastic and truly inspiring to see our generation taking action - believing we can bring something new and fresh, something that Portugal urgently needs.

Your brand has a very distinct style. How would you describe the style of your pieces?

We look for references to timeless wardrobes - pieces that mothers and grandmothers have kept because they outlast trends - adapted to our personal taste and to the present day. Another key aspect is Molly’s influence: she’s irish and grew up in a culture different from mine. That mix is visible in our clothes, blending her culture with mine and with portuguese textile tradition.

Taippe is one of the few brands in Portugal with such a strong identity — from colors and typography to aesthetics and photography. How is this entire visual universe conceived and developed?

From the start, it was quite intuitive for us to know what our pillars were: graphic design, fashion design, and communication. Molly, Isabel, and I each represent one of these pillars, but the visual universe is conceived as a whole. For a collection to reach the right audience, it must be communicated using the right tools.

Our community is made up of people who pay attention to a brand’s details - who appreciate its visual universe alongside the clothing pieces and the way they’re communicated. Everything impacts the customer, from the very first contact to the packaging.

On your Instagram bio, you write ‘Irish designed, crafted by Portuguese hands.’ Could you explain the meaning behind this phrase?

Since Taippe became independent, Molly has become my business partner because of her involvement with and dedication to the brand. It no longer made sense to say the brand was mine alone, as she’s an essential part of Taippe. She brings a lot of her culture and life experience into the designs. That’s why: “Irish designed, crafted by portuguese hands.” Taippe is partly irish but developed in portugal, honoring our textile heritage.

Sustainability and ethics seem to be central for you, both in the materials you use and the partners you work with. How do you balance these concerns with the brand’s growth needs?

By learning to be adaptable, we’ve been able to find natural fabrics, like cotton, and incorporate them into our pieces. When we can’t avoid synthetics, such as elastane, we try to use existing stock that’s been sitting unused in companies, giving it a new life.

You recently collaborated with Pellador, a brand already established internationally. What impact did this collaboration have for Taippe and the way you present yourselves in the market?

This collaboration was extremely important for entering the Irish market, which, even though it was already one of our biggest markets, helped pave the way for more people to discover and follow our brand. From the start, it aligned with the strategy of heavily supporting new and independent brands that they have over there.

You’ve already organized events in Milan, Paris, and Dublin. Is internationalizing the brand a goal for the near future?

It always has been, which is why in just one year of the brand, these were the steps we took. Unfortunately, despite the constant and growing emergence of portuguese brands, the portuguese mindset is harder to shift. It’s not a country with a lot of capital to invest in new designers and make them commercially successful - and I’ve always been aware of that.

I’ve always wanted to offer a quality product, but a quality product is never cheap. I want people to know that when they buy Taippe, they’re buying a piece for life. That mindset, although growing, still doesn’t outweigh buying “what’s trendy.” That’s why my goal has always been to showcase abroad what we can create here in Portugal - not just the quality, but also to show that there are new and unique brands.

Realistically, those who purchase Taippe most regularly are rarely from our portuguese community, so we also have to focus on those audiences and nurture them. In the coming months, we’ll take further steps in that direction with more international pop-ups!

Where do you see Taippe in the next five years?

We want more collaborations, a presence in the American market, and more physical points of sale. To become a reference brand in Portugal and showcase our textile capabilities to other countries. Portugal is facing a textile crisis, and within my capacity, I hope to contribute through Taippe.

What can we expect from Taippe later this year in terms of collections or collaborative projects?

We’re going to introduce a permanent collection featuring the community’s favorites, to allow for restocks. As for collaborations, we only work with brands that make sense for us.

A positive message to our community :)

We don’t have enough words in our vocabulary to thank everyone who supports and follows us <33!!! Thank you for letting us work on something that truly motivates us and that we do with so much joy and fun. Keep spreading love for portuguese brands and beyond, for brands led by young people!!!!