How is featherwork related to where you live?
Paris was really the capital of featherwork. There used to be hundreds of feather workshops dedicated to making many different things, particularly hats. Few workshops remain in the city today, but this history is always present.
What specific techniques do you use?
The strength of my workshop is in technical innovation. I develop many techniques that are only used by us, leading to really innovative work. For example, we work feathers by weaving them, and we do something that we call ‘perlage’, where we transform feathers into pearls.
© Janaina Milheiro
Is your work primarily created for the fashion industry?
Each year is different to the next. But overall, I’d say that 50 percent of my work is really destined for fashion and the rest is created for interiors, shop window decorations, boutiques. Whatever sector it is made for, my work is always completely imbued with my vision and my techniques.
Where do you get inspiration from?
I am very inspired by textiles, particularly by lace. I really like the idea of a translucent perforated surface. It’s a very broad inspiration that allows me to develop both my technical and formal research. I’m also inspired by the questions posed by the project itself.