RioFW 2026: Dendezeiro

Under the direction of Hisan Silva and Pedro Batalha, they move the brand from its previous series into a visceral plunge into its own origins, where fashion serves as a narrative platform for the Black and LGBTQIA+ community.

What was seen was the materialization of a system of thought that recognizes the body as a space for political construction and resistance. There is an ethical intelligence in this project: House of Dendezeiro does not merely aim to dress, but to reconfigure the codes of expression and safety that shape its own aesthetic trajectory. The rigor of the design manifests in a silhouette that abandons restraint to embrace direct exposure, turning the skin into an integral part of the project. The pieces reveal a radical shaping exercise that values movement and attitude, challenging the traditional perception of utilitarian clothing. Structures that tense the body coexist with volumes that evoke the performance of the ball runways, highlighting a technical construction that does not sacrifice functionality for symbolism.

There is a sophistication in the way the brand articulates cuts and proportions, creating a friction zone between what is shown and what is protected, affirming a sensuality that is, above all, autonomy. The materiality of the collection is where the discourse thickens, marking the debut of latex in the label's repertoire. Leather takes prominence as a central raw material, conferring an architectural solidity that contrasts with the fluidity of the performances. The use of these materials is not random; they evoke the rawness and sophistication of urban culture, serving as a support for a textile research that insists on the tactile and durability.

The incorporation of textures that shine and slide over the body reinforces the sculptural character of the pieces, proving that Dendezeiro approaches material as a coalesced memory of a collective experience. The color palette organizes the gaze through a sobriety that privileges black and earthy tones, allowing shapes and materiality to assume the protagonism of the visual discourse. Color here functions as a territory of identification, rejecting the empty spectacle in favor of a palette that suggests permanence and authority.

The contrast between matte surfaces and the synthetic sheen of latex creates an atmosphere of suspension and mystery, reflecting the complexity of a movement that inhabits the margins to reprogram the center. There is a technical sensitivity in the way the tone is distributed, organizing the narrative of a collection that refuses to be fleeting.