
Julia Van der Leij
/Show Day
April 10
/Social Media
Julia Van der Leij is an Italian-Brazilian fashion designer whose work bridges craftsmanship,
material experimentation, and narrative depth. Educated at Istituto Marangoni Milano, her
practice explores memory, identity, and cultural dialogue through refined silhouettes and
textile research. With experiences with print development and fashion design, she won
contests such as FAAP Moda and Identidade Brasileira by Istituto Marangoni in partnership
with Vogue Brasil. Her philosophy merges technical precision with emotional sensitivity,
balancing innovation with artisanal tradition.
PREVIOUS COLLECTIONS
What inspired you to become a fashion designer?
I always knew I wanted to work in a creative field. As a child, I followed runway shows, fashion magazines, and editorials, and those experiences inspired me to pursue fashion design and turn my passion into a career.
How would you describe your design style?
I'm a maximalist at heart. I love embroidery, mixing colours and textures, and adding playful, theatrical elements. I believe fashion should be fun, thought-provoking, and a bold form of self-expression.
What can people expect from your latest collection?
My latest collection is inspired by the feeling of anemoia—nostalgia for a time or place you've never experienced. I combined special fabrics sourced from different countries to create a collection that tells this emotional story through colour, texture, and craftsmanship.
Why is colour such an important part of your design process?
Colour plays a major role in the stories I tell through fashion. I use it unapologetically because it helps build emotion, strengthen the narrative, and bring the entire collection together.
Why do you enjoy working with handmade techniques like embroidery and felting?
I love learning new manual techniques because they allow me to create unique textures and details. Handmade craftsmanship gives each garment its own personality and helps communicate the concept behind every collection.






