World flight

This editorial is about escapism, fleeing the world, immersing into a new, soothing reality, that offer a temporary reprieve you can find in nature. It also is a manifest for slow fashion by investing in second-hand clothing and conscious consumption. Photographer Cátia Castel-Branco, friend and long term contributor to ZOOT, went to Alentejo to photograph a book for the artisanal handcrafted fabrics of Fabricaal. She was assisted by Riitta Malka, a face paint artist originally from Kyiv, Ukraine – who was modelling and did her own makeup here. Together they brought us this inspiring editorial back, set in the wild beauty of Alentejo, it circles around artistry and combines the present with the future, leaving us with a sentiment
of saudade and peace.

The shift back to nature gained momentum during Covid, with many people rediscovering a sense of home in natural surroundings. This revival has sparked renewed interest in traditional crafts—old weaving and embroidery factories, once on the verge of disappearing, are now being acquired by new generations. These young owners are not only preserving these nearly forgotten traditions but revitalizing them with fresh perspectives, breathing new life into heritage and offering a modern take on the basics. I captured these  photographs in Reguengos, Alentejo, during my work on the Fabricaal book—a project dedicated to a factory with over 100 years of history, known for producing traditional Alentejo blankets and handmade rugs. Since 2020, Fabricaal has been revitalized by three partners who joined forces to preserve this legacy.

The model of these pictures, Riitta Malka, originally from Ukraine, moved to Portugal this year. In Ukraine she started exploring painting, especially face painting, as a creative outlet. I invited  Riittato to join me on my trip to Alentejo, assisting with the book project, and together, we did these images. The blanket is by Fabricaal, and the clothes are second-hand from Pop Closet.