To attend a Nuno Baltazar fashion show is to enter a universe of passions, infatuation, drama, happy endings and not-so-happy endings. It is, above all, to be swept away by his trademark and unmistakable refinement. For more than fifteen years, it has established its own place in the closets of the most elegant women in Portugal.

Though born in Lisbon, January 1976, it was while growing up in Porto that an innocent discovery triggered Nuno's interest in drawing. Who could resist the elegance enclosed in the 50’s magazine collection found in a chest at his grandparents’ house? This naturally led to his decision of, in 1994, enroling in Citex, the renowned fashion school from Porto. The decision proved to be the right one, as demonstrated by the several awards won, such as Sangue Novo 1996, Porto Moda 1996 and Máxima magazine best new designer 1996 and 1997.

In 1999, after a short but nevertheless very successful track record, Nuno Baltazar starts the regular presentation of his collections. Firstly with Paulo Cravo, with whom he still remains a close friend, under the label cravo.baltazar. Later, as Nuno Baltazar, in events such as Portugal fashion and Paris fashion week, before establishing himself as one of the leading events in Moda Lisboa calendar. Recently, he has returned to Portugal fashion in Oporto as the place for his regular presentations, has a way to be closer to his most loyal costumers.

Despite of getting inspiration for the runway from travels, cinema, opera and iconic celebrities such as Amália Rodrigues, Marquesa de Jácome Correia and Virginia Woolf's characters, Nuno Baltazar's collections are always contemporary and translate the desires of real women. Along with the couture sewing details, there is a common sense kind of design that is in tune with the needs of the clientele from different generations. There is a demand for both prêt-a-porter and the atelier made-to-measure creations.

Besides meaning real fashion, to bring up Nuno Baltazar's name is to recall a language of femininity that, among many situations – plays, movies, concerts and red carpet events – dresses some of the most elegant celebrities in the country. To a list full with actresses, presenters and singers, was added the conductor Joana Carneiro, as one of the women for which the designer creates exclusive designs, tailored to the needs of the baton of talent.

However, it would be unthinkable to close the list of the designer’s followers without mentioning Catarina Furtado, the ONU ambassador and the brightest star in Portuguese tv. Since 2001, he single-handedly develops the tv host’s image; she has now become a friend and the label’s front face. “ I must have something in common with whom I work with. I cannot simply “wear something”. His character, his taste for the poetic and theatrical created a connection between us, right away during the first time I visited Nuno in Porto”, confessed Catarina Furtado, in the number 100 edition of Vogue Portugal.

One can expect the numerous honours, like various nominations for best designer and the award for best designer by Portuguese fashion tv awards 2011 and Portuguese golden globes 2012, that continuously prove the talent of a young but established name in Portuguese fashion. In 2015 he received a great honor from Portuguese president of the republic being bestowed with a commendation of the Infant D. Henrique order. However, the ultimate homage does not have the shape of a trophy, it comes as an answer to the question “what are you wearing?” And the reply echoes in the lips of innumerable women as an exclamation: “Nuno Baltazar”.

By Manuel Arnaut

CV

Nuno baltazar was born in January 5, 1976, in Lisbon, Portugal.

In 1998, graduates in fashion design by Citex (Centre of professional training for the textile industry). During his academic journey wins various awards such as young designer in 95 and 96 and Porto Moda in 97. By the year of 99 starts to be a part of the Moda Lisboa (Lisbon fashion week) national runway calendar.

His first store opens in Oporto in may, 2005, where is available since, his ready-to-wear collections. Nuno Baltazar's work extends, beyond his eponymous collections, to the creation of one of the kind garments with the label Nuno Baltazar atelier. His custom made designs are continuously worn by various personalities such as Portuguese actress and presenter Catarina Furtado and Portuguese conductor Joana Carneiro. His creative office is also responsible for different uniforms projects (Ibis hotels Portugal, Hotel&Spa Aquafalls, Casino da Póvoa, Tenco Coffees, and EDP) as well as some collaborations in films, plays, music and dance.

In 2009 is launched “Baltazar | map” – a furniture and illumination line - in a partnership with architect Vitor Almeida, being internationalized through 2010/2011 with presence in international trade fairs in Milan, London, Paris and Abu Dhabi. Nuno Baltazar's new eyewear line made its debut in 2012.

In 2013 participates in the exposition “de Lisboa a Macau – uma viagem de moda” (from Lisbon to Macau – a fashion journey) at the Macau fashion gallery where is displayed a retrospective of his 15 years of work as a fashion designer.

In 2015 takes on the creative direction of RFS (Riopele fashion solutions) of the Riopele group and wins the commendation of the infant d.henrique order.

2018 is a year of major changes with the change of the shop and atelier to the centre of Porto and it’s also the year that marks 20 years of his work.

In 2019, he designs the costume for the play "A Disputa", by Marivaux.

2019

Designs the costumes for the the Marivaux portuguese adaptation play "A Disputa" by João Reis, presented at gardens of the Nacional Palace of Queluz.

2018

Inaugurates the new store in Porto downton at Rua do Bolhão,37

Launchs a sportswear collection : Sport Zone x Nuno Baltazar, a partnership powered by Portugal Fashion

2016

Designs the costume for the play "Terminal de aeroporto – t5", by Nuno M. Cardoso

2015

Designs the Holmes Place Spa uniforms

Wins the commendation of the Infant D. Henrique order, Lisbon

Becomes the creative director of RFS (Riopele Fashion Solutions) of the Riopele group

2013

Wins the golden globe for best fashion designer 2012 in Golden Globes - SIC

2012

Nomination best fashion designer in fashion tv awards 2012.

In partnership with optical OCR group presents its first collection Nuno Baltazar eyewear.

Exhibition "diz-me do que gostas, dir-te-ei quem és" at mude - museum of fashion and design of lisbon.

Exhibition "com esta voz me visto- o fado e a moda”" at mude - museum of fashion and design of lisbon.

Creates the wardrobe for the fado singer Caminho for concerts at Lisbon and Porto coliseums..

2011

Award-winning for the best fashion designer 2011 at fashion tv Portugal awards.

Wins employees EDP new uniforms contest.

Nomination for the best fashion designer in golden globe SIC | Caras awards 2010.

Presentation of Baltazar - map collection at maison et objet - Paris, interiors UAE - Abu Dhabi and decorex – London fairs.

Teaches project and fundamentals of design in fashion design course in ESAD.

2010

Presentation of the Baltazar - map collection in Milan and 100% design London fairs.

Nomination for the best fashion designer in fashion tv Portugal awards 2010.

Presents the nuno baltazar atelier collection in estoril fashion art festival.

Hombres in falda collection presented in estoril fashion art festival.

Teaches project in graduate fashion design in esad.

In partnership with Nespresso presents its first fall pre. Winter 10 | 11 collection.

Developing the image for the conductor Joana Carneiro.

Draft corporate clothing from employees of Coffee Tenco

2009

In partnership with architect Vitor Almeida launches his first home collection, baltazar|map.

Initiates a collaboration with Fado singer Caminho, creating the wardrobe for her first videoclips directed by João Botelho.

Develops the wardrobe for actress Guida Maria in “vagina monologues”.

As an invitation of Teatro Nacional S.João, he´s one of the ambassadors for the season 08\09.

2008

Customized seat Altea xl by Nuno Baltazar for SEAT Portugal.

Nominated for best designer on Portuguese golden globes.

Created the looks for Raquel Tavares and Tiago Fernandes, the Portuguese couple in the Eurovision dance contest – Glasgow 2008.

2007

Starts seling his collection on Loja das Meias - Cascais

Develops the project of uniforms for hotel&spa aqua falls

Works with SEAT on the project “design to compete”

2006

Develops the uniforms for casino da Póvoa do Varzim

Works the image of the tv presenter Catarina Furtado for the tv show “Dança Comigo” on r.t.p

Costumes for the character “Rubia” on Raquel Freire's film – “Veneno Cura”

Works with SEAT on the project “design to compete”

Works the image on stage of the fado singer Mafalda Arnauth.

Develops the uniforms for ibis hotels in Portugal

2005

Opening of the first shop Nuno Baltazar

Works the image of the tv presenter Catarina Furtado for many programs on national television r.t.p.

Presents the spring-summer 2005 collection on 1ª Funchal fashion week

2004

Presenting of the 1st Nuno Baltazar collection

Nuno Baltazar atelier – opening

He develops the image of the tv host Catarina Furtado for several shows of the national Portuguese television.

2003

He teaches design and masculine clothing; fashion tendencies research and analysis; planning and development of collections at CITEX – Porto.

He develops the image of the tv host Catarina Furtado for the “Operação Triunfo” at National Portuguese television.

2002

Paulo Cravo.Nuno Baltazar shop opening in Lisbon

Lacoste exhibition – project 12.12

“Best off”catalogue – portuguese centre of design

Collective fashion show - Moda Cascais 2002, Cascais.

Exhibition “+ Portugal” – fashion exhibition of Portuguese designers in Barcelona.

Development of uniforms for the restaurants bazzar, espaço Massarelos and Tasca do Rio.

He participates in the conferences “questões de moda” [“fashion issues”] - theme “the globalisation of fashion”.

2001

Workshop “arkhétypon vs. Industria” promoted by the portuguese centre of design

March 01 – january 2003: he develops charles first collection in the areas of clothing, shoes and leather goods.

Figurines for recitals of the lyric opera singer luisa rodrigues de freitas

2000

Figurines for the choreography “para Keith, sem razão aparente” of Rui Nunes integrated in the Acarte-Mudanças 2000

Exhibition “Arkhétypon” promoted by the Portuguese Centre of Design

Fórum “Fashion Designers’ 2000”promoted by AIM – associação industrial do minho

Collective fashion show – vestir o milénio - parque das nações, lisbon.

Collective fashion show – modacascais 2000, Cascais.

Collective fashion show - litoral fashion, Aveiro.

1999

Collective fashion show “Vestir o Milénio” - Parque das Nações, Lisbon.

Exhibition “Mode portugaise au printemps” promovida pelo ICEP.

Design of working clothes for the “Flamingo” company (jewelry)

Working clothes project “Oni Telecom” – José António Tenente

Working clothes project for internatiobal fairs “Révigres” – José António Tenente.

1998

Contest “Novos Estilistas - Expowear - FIL “, Lisbon

Expomoda - Expoourense , Ourense , Espanha .

Collective fashion show “Vestir o Futuro” - Parque das Nações, Lisbon.

Contest “Sangue Novo - Modalisbon “, Lisbon .

Collection men and women “núcleo“.

Figurinos para o concurso “Super model of the world“, Lisbon.

Ilustrações para caderno de tendências - Anivec, Porto.

Fashion productions at models school “In”, Porto.

1997

Contest “Design de Moda - novos talentos Máxima“, 5th edition, Lisbon .

Contest “Jovens Criadores - Portomoda“, Porto .

Contest “Sangue Novo - Modalisbon “, Lisbon .

Internship at the fashion office of Anivec, Porto.

Internship with the fashion designer Maria Gambina, Porto.

Working cloths Expo’ 98 - José António Tenente and Maria Gambina .

1996

“Manobras de Maio”– special 10th anniversary

Contest “Design de Moda - novos talentos máxima”, 4th edition , Lisbon .

Contest “Manifesto Moda “, Porto.

National young designers exhibition, Lisbon.

1995

“Manobras de Maio”

1994

Contest “Novos Estilistas - Expowear - FIL”, Lisbon.