Camarao, Alessandra

Camarao, Alessandra
@_alessandracamarao / @alxdcmr

BALEK, from the Itawes word meaning “my home,” is a heartfelt tribute to the designer’s grandmother and the roots that shaped her sense of identity. Inspired by memories of her grandmother’s garden, the collection captures the essence of home where comfort, beauty, and resilience coexist. It translates nostalgia into soft, organic textures, earthy palettes, and contemporary resort silhouettes. Each piece tells a visual tale of belonging, grounding modern femininity in cultural memory. BALEK embodies the idea that home is not just a place but a feeling—an emotional return to where one’s story begins.

Alessandra Camarao is a fashion designer whose work centers on storytelling, identity, and cultural reflection. Rooted in her Itawes heritage, she views design as a way to reconnect with her origins and celebrate the people and places that shaped her. Her creative process begins with memory transforming personal experiences into tactile narratives through texture, color, and form. In BALEK, Alessandra merges emotion with craftsmanship, proving that clothing can carry not only style but also the spirit of one’s home and heritage.

The most challenging part of designing the BALEK collection was translating deeply personal memories and emotions into cohesive garments. By pushing through this stage, the designer developed discipline, patience, and clarity in refining concepts while balancing emotional depth with technical execution. The concept development stage became the favorite part of the process, as it allowed space to explore memories and symbolism inspired by the grandmother’s garden. This stage was especially meaningful because it connected personal history with the creative process through visual and tactile elements. The collection helped define the designer’s identity as one who creates garments rooted in memory, emotion, and purpose-driven design rather than aesthetics alone.