Pedro Patricio, the UK Director for AICEP Portugal and Paulo Goncalves, the Communications Director for APICCAPS at last nights unveiling of the footwear collection by Annie Purdy held within the Portuguese Embassy as part of London Fashion Week.
Courtesy of APICCAPS
Last night the Portuguese Embassy in London opened its doors for London Fashion Week to celebrate a new collection of footwear that marks the first collaboration between London College of Fashion, UAL and The Portuguese Footwear Association (APICCAPS). Designed by graduate Annie Purdy, the collection is the result of the designer winning the inaugural Portuguese Footwear Award, hosted by APICCAPS, giving her the opportunity to develop a standalone collection with suppliers from the association.
Annie Purdy, the winner of the inaugural Portuguese Footwear Award pictured last night at the unveiling of her new collection as part of London Fashion Week.
Courtesy of APICCAPS
Not only highlighting the ingenuity of Purdy’s design sensibility, the initiative draws attention to the depth of talent found within the region and how, through collaboration, it can be applied and accessed on an international stage. Produced in partnership with APICCAPS, Purdy’s collection consists of six different styles with each shoe handcrafted from Portuguese leather and designed in two colourways, most notably a striking metallic green.
Speaking of her contemporary, fashion-forward aesthetic, Purdy says how she drew inspiration from the relationship between craft and innovation. “I explored how traditional shoemaking skills could coexist with experimental, forward-thinking design,” she comments. The body of work also speaks to themes of resilience, adaptability and contemporary culture, Purdy explains, while looking at footwear as a medium through which to combine functionality and the art of storytelling.
The collection by Annie Purdy features six different designs, each available in two colourways including a striking metallic green.
Courtesy of APICCAPS
In partnering with APICCAPS, Purdy continues to say how it led to a dynamic exchange of ideas with an open dialogue allowing for a seamless transition from design to production. “Having access to their depth of material knowledge and high-quality manufacturing expertise allowed me to push my concepts further, knowing they could be realised with precision and durability,” she states. “It gave me the freedom to experiment while remaining grounded in feasibility and craftsmanship.”
The Portuguese Footwear Award commenced in January 2025, kicking off with an immersive workshop hosted at the London College of Fashion, led by Portuguese industry experts and award-winning designer Bianca Saunders. Bringing together LCF BA and MA graduates, the initiative was curated to challenge the concept of footwear design and the conventional notions associated with it.
The initiative brings together the technical prowess and heritage of APICCAPS with the fresh design perspectives of Annie Purdy, showcasing how tradition and innovation can be intertwined to create a more sustainable future for the industry.
Courtesy of APICCAPS
“We are deeply committed to investing in young creatives,” says Paulo Gonçalves, Communications Director for the Association. “While Portugal has the know-how, production capacity, technological innovation, and significant investment into sustainable innovation, LCF has a lot of talent and a fresh vision of the market which adds further depth and dimension. We are fully committed to this partnership and the Portuguese footwear industry aims to become a major international reference. Therefore, as part of its strategic plan, it is making its largest investment ever into an initiative of this kind.”
Launching at this year’s London Fashion Week also offers a platform for both Purdy and the wider project to showcase to a global audience the opportunities that come from such creative collaborations.
Courtesy of APICCAPS
With yesterday’s event allowing visitors and those involved time to reflect upon and celebrate the progress of the initiative, it also was a timely reminder of how collaboration can be key in tackling wider issues of sustainability and preserving the heritage of regional craft and creativity. “No single designer can solve these challenges alone,” Purdy says. “It requires shared expertise, cross-disciplinary approaches and an open dialogue throughout the supply chain.” With it inspiring Purdy to expand and adapt her own creative practice, it is a positive example for the wider industry in portraying how to bridge the gap between heritage and modernity and its capacity to facilitate industry change at a faster pace.
“It taught me to consider longevity, function and the lifecycle of a product from the outset,” she concludes. “Going forward, I will continue to embed these considerations into my practice, ensuring my work always bridges narrative, design integrity, and sustainable responsibility.”