Clara Eloïse Fernandes
- PhD in Fashion Design, University of Minho/University of Beira Interior (Portugal)
- Masters degree in Fashion Design, University of Beira Interior (Portugal)
- Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design, University of Beira Interior (Portugal)
Clara Eloïse Fernandes was born and raised in France. In 2008, she pursued Fashion Design studies in Portugal. For her Master's degree, she focused her research on new technologies and innovation, working on a virtual fitting room for people with reduced mobility with the company Follow Inspiration, and was granted an innovation Award at the Arrisca C start-up contest.
She worked as a freelance designer until she started her PhD in 2014 (UMINHO / UBI, Portugal). The following year, she initiated her academic career in Design Education, organising several events, exhibitions, educating and training design students from different programmes. Since 2015, she has worked as an invited assistant professor at the University of Beira Interior and simultaneously as an assistant professor at IADE-European University.
In 2018, she became the first fashion design PhD in the country, with her thesis ‘The Fashion Design Entrepreneur: skills and solutions to create a fashion-related business’. Her passion for entrepreneurship ignited during her experience with technology start-ups and creative ventures. She decided to create hoop"’ – a model platform to help young designers transform ideas into sustainable ventures. She became an integrated member at the UNIDCOM research unit in 2020 and is currently pursuing her mission to empower young creators to become design entrepreneurs.
Research and Practice
Curator/Creative Director
- HCM_IADE | Online exhibition, Design students’ work (2021)
- HCM_IADE | Online exhibition, Design students’ work (2020)
- FPM_DM20 | Online exhibition, Fashion Design students’ work (2020)
- DESIGN MODA 3.0 | MFGA | Exhibition of Fashion Design students’ work (2019)
- DESIGN MODA 3.0 | RENOVATION | Exhibition of Fashion Design students work (2018)
- DESIGN MODA 3.0 (2017)
- Organisation member: Move Up' 18 – Students’ Fashion Show
Publications
- FERNANDES, C. E.; PEREIRA, M.; MADEIRA, M. J. Fashion design entrepreneurship: A qualitative approach. (G. Montagna, C. Carvalho, Eds.) Textiles, Identity and Innovation: In Touch PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2ND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TEXTILES, IDENTITY AND INNOVATION (D_TEX 2019). Lisbon: Taylor & Francis, DOI: 10.1201/9780429286872 ISBN: 978-0-367-25244-1 (2020)
- MARQUES, S., SILVA, J., FERNANDES, C. & MIGUEL, R. Implementation of additive manufacturing technologies in apparel production. (G. Montagna, C. Carvalho, Eds.) Textiles, Identity and Innovation: In Touch PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2ND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TEXTILES, IDENTITY AND INNOVATION (D_TEX 2019). Lisbon: Taylor & Francis, DOI: 10.1201/9780429286872 ISBN: 978-0-367-25244-1(2020)
- MIGUEL, R., LUCAS,J., FERNANDES, C. E., et al. The Fabrics Design Influence in Real and Simulated Drape of Clothing. International Congress on Engineering — Engineering for Evolution, KnE Engineering. Knowledge E, DOI: 10.18502/keg.v5i6.7060 (2020)
- FERNANDES, C. E.; PEREIRA, M.; MADEIRA, M. J. Fashion Design Entrepreneurs: A Case Study. In: LUÍSA CAGICA CARVALHO & MARIA JOSÉ MADEIRA (Ed.), Global Campaigning Initiatives for Socio-Economic Development. [s.l.] IGI Global, ISBN: 9781522579373 (2019)
- FERNANDES, C. E. The Fashion Design Entrepreneur: skills and solutions to create a fashion-related business, Journal of Textile Science & Fashion Technology, v. 3, n. 1, DOI: 10.33552/JTSFT.2019.03.000553 (2019)
- Fernandes, C. E., Pereira, M. e Madeira, M. J. FASHION DESIGN ENTREPRENEURS: RESEARCH CONCLUSIONS, in Simpósio FibEnTech. Covilhã, Portugal (2018)
- MARQUES, S., FERNANDES, C.E. et al. A STUDY ON NEW TECHNOLOGIES APPLIED TO FASHION DESIGN, in Simposio FibEnTech. Covilhã, Portugal (2018)
- FERNANDES, C. E. et al. Emerging platforms for Fashion Design Entrepreneurs: An Assessment. (A. C. Broega et al., Eds.) Reverse Design - PROCEEDINGS OF THE 4TH INTERNATIONAL FASHION AND DESIGN CONGRESS (CIMODE 2018), 21–23 MAY 2018, MADRID, SPAIN.Madrid: Taylor & Francis, ISBN: 9781138370111 (2018)
- The Fashion Design Entrepreneur: skills and solutions to create a fashion-related business [s.l.] University of Beira Interior and University of Minho (2018)
- FERNANDES, C. E.; PEREIRA, M. M. R.; MADEIRA, M. J. Fashion Design Entrepreneurship: New Platforms and New Solutions. iTechStyle Summit.Porto de Leixões (2018)
- FERNANDES, C. E. et al. ENTREPRENEURSHIP: NEW MODELS OF BUSINESS IN FASHION DESIGN, Symposio FibEnTech.Covilhã, Portugalv(2017)
- FERNANDES, C. E. et al. Entrepreneurship in the Fashion Industry, Global Fashion.Stockholm, Sweden (2016)
- FERNANDES, C. E. et al. ONLINE FASHION RETAIL : THE DESIGN OF A NEW VIRTUAL FITTING ROOM USING NEW TECHNOLOGIES, CIMODE 2016- 3o International Fashion and Design Congress.Buenos Aires: ISBN: 978-972-8692-93-3 (2016)
- FERNANDES, C. E. et al. Entrepreneurship in the Fashion Industry: A New Paradigm, (V. Demetris, W. Yaakov, E. Tsoukatos, Eds.)Euromed - 9th Annual Conference of the EuroMed Academy of Business.Warsaw, Poland: EuroMed Press (2016)
- New Technologies and Design: The Multidisciplinary Project of a Virtual Fitting Room, Simposio FibEnTech. Covilhã, Portugal (2016)
- FERNANDES, C. E. et al. FASHION DESIGN AS ENTREPRENEURSHIP: NEW CHALLENGES AND NEW OPPORTUNITIES, in Saur-Amaral, I. et al. (orgs.) ICIEMC 2016. Lisbon: Universidade Europeia. ISBN: 978-989-20-6718-6 (2016)
Research Interests
- Entrepreneurship
- Creative industries
- New technologies applied to design
- Design thinking & education
- Sustainability