CARLA PONTES ON DESIGNING THE NEW STAFF UNIFORMS FOR ANDAZ LISBON

INTERVIEW: CARLA PONTES ON DESIGNING THE STAFF UNIFORMS FOR ANDAZ LISBON.

As the new Andaz Lisbon prepares to open in the heart of Baixa, Portuguese designer Carla Pontes has created a series of staff uniforms that weave together contemporary fashion, Portuguese craft and expressive folklore.

Where Portuguese Craft Meets Contemporary Hospitality

When a new hotel opens in Lisbon, design inevitably becomes part of the conversation. In a city where tiled façades, maritime light and centuries of craft sit comfortably beside contemporary galleries and fashion studios, the details matter.

For Andaz Lisbon, those details extend beyond architecture and interiors to the garments worn by the people who animate the hotel each day. Pontes was invited to reinterpret the language of the traditional hotel uniform, creating a series of pieces that balance practicality with personality.

The designer approached the project through the lens of Portuguese cultural heritage, drawing inspiration from Figurado de Barcelos, a distinctive tradition of clay folk sculpture originating from her hometown. Known for their expressive, sometimes mythical figures, these works of popular art became the conceptual foundation for uniforms that merge contemporary tailoring with subtle references to folklore, craft and storytelling.

Developed in collaboration with illustrator Melissa Antunes and jewellery designer Joana Santos, the uniforms combine structured and fluid silhouettes, prints, embroidery and custom jewellery elements. The result is a collection designed to move naturally through the rhythms of hotel life while quietly reflecting Lisbon’s creative identity.

Interview: Carla Pontes On Designing The Staff Uniforms For Andaz Lisbon

We asked Pontes about the inspiration behind the project and the process of transforming folklore into contemporary garments.

The uniforms draw on Figurado de Barcelos and Portuguese popular art. How did you translate those expressive, almost mystical forms into garments that feel contemporary and refined within a luxury hotel setting?

“When we began the creative process, I immediately understood that Andaz hotels express a singular, innovative, and creative kind of luxury. I also knew that in Lisbon the hotel would be housed in a building with classical architecture. This context aligned perfectly with my design language, so it felt natural to conceive pieces that deconstruct the rigidity of classic hotel uniforms, giving them contemporary freshness while refining the image of luxury. As a complement, we needed a strong theme that would help us tell local and national stories. Figurado de Barcelos, which I know very well, is a form of popular art in which each figure tells a story, recalls a legend, or represents a mythological or everyday character. It holds a deeply expressive and distinctly Portuguese richness. These figures are reinterpreted through prints, embroidery, and jewellery that complement the uniforms. They also indirectly influence the choice of colour palette, as well as the slim or rounded silhouettes, depending on the department. To develop these important details, I collaborated with illustrator Melissa Antunes and jeweller, Joana Santos.”

What made you say yes to Andaz Lisbon? Was it the brand’s emphasis on personal style, the location in Baixa, or the opportunity to create something so visibly connected to Lisbon?

“What truly drew me to the uniform project for Andaz Lisbon was the sense of challenge and boldness I felt when I first encountered the concept and vision being designed for the hotel. For me, it made perfect sense to merge my language of a new minimalist classicism with the freshness and youthful spirit that Andaz Hotels convey. Lisbon itself, with its incredible light, its location in the heart of Baixa, and directly opposite the MUDE Design Museum, further reinforced my intention to focus on thoughtful design with individual and local expression.”

How did this commission differ from your previous projects, and were there any new challenges in designing for hospitality?

“Designing for hospitality is very different from designing for the runway or for the stage. This was my third hospitality project, and each one has been entirely distinct. Functionality, freedom of movement, everyday comfort, and resistance to heavy wear were key concerns throughout. However, in the case of the uniforms for Andaz Lisbon, there was an additional focus on individual expression. The looks are designed to allow versatility and adaptability in how the pieces are worn, without compromising the unity of each department’s uniform group.”

These pieces balance structure and fluidity, comfort and elegance. How did you approach merging your own minimalist, process-driven language with the Andaz brand identity while ensuring the uniforms remain practical for long working days?

“It was important not to lose sight of practicality, so we worked with a company that specialised in uniforms. Together, drawing on their expertise, I selected materials with durable characteristics, resistant enough to withstand daily use, yet varied in texture and drape to allow for design expression. The minimalist design of the pieces conceals the details that make them functional and comfortable – such as pockets, slits, elastic elements – or integrates aprons into belts or dresses. It is this union of aesthetic clarity and functionality that defines the project.”

Looking back at the full journey, from the first brief to seeing the team wear the finished pieces, what has been your favourite part of the process and what has surprised you most?

“There are two moments in the process that I truly love. One is the beginning, when I start working on the theme, dedicating myself to hand drawing, thinking about materials, colours, and what is important for each look. The other, perhaps my favourite, is when the first samples are ready and I see the drawings take real form on a body. It is wonderful to witness the transformation of an idea into a tangible product.”

A Hotel Rooted in Lisbon

When the doors of Andaz Lisbon open in Spring 2026, the uniforms created by Carla Pontes will quietly form part of the hotel’s visual language. Worn across reception desks, restaurants and rooftop terraces, they are designed not simply as garments but as subtle expressions of place, the light of Lisbon and the contemporary spirit of the city itself. In a hotel that places “personal style” at the centre of its philosophy, Pontes’ designs offer something both practical and poetic, a reminder that hospitality, like fashion, is often defined by the smallest details.

Images by Mattia Massaiu