Borgo de Nor: London’s most vibrant fashion label

In 2017, Carmen Borgonovo and Joana de Noronha founded their London-based label, Borgo de Nor, revitalising fashion rails with their bold and brightly printed dresses that effortlessly combine soft femininity with a sense of audacious elegance. 

Five years on and their fundamental muse remains the boundary-breaking female creative: women like Frida Kahlo, Lee Miller, Leonora Carrington and Hilma af Klint whose strength and self-possession was a magnetic force that has shown itself to be timelessly compelling.

How Borgonovo (now creative director) and de Noronha (who serves as commercial director) translated this feeling into fabric is down to their own cultural roots and career backgrounds. Both are fashion industry veterans who share a mutual love of travel and style. Borgonovo, who is originally from El Salvador, is a former fashion director, while de Noronha  who hails from Portugal, cut her teeth as a luxury wholesaler.

Firm friends already, the duo clicked when it came to their entrepreneurial vision, mutually driven by a desire to harness a sense of daring, power and sophistication in female fashion. Now sold at Net-a-Porter and Matches, Borgo de Nor has slowly and stealthily claimed its place on the luxury retail scene. In fact, this year marks the first time that the pair has launched an autumn/winter collection, inspired by the louche and carefree attitude of their most beloved icons of the 1970s and 1980s, among them Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, Inès de La Fressange and Bianca Jagger. It’s certainly an eclectic mix, but one that instantly makes sense when you see this collection of silky and sensuous pieces, many finessed with feathered hems. 

As always, Borgo de Nor’s stand-out prints have their own commanding presence: AW22/23 has all the verve of summer, though the cooler months signal added fire and depth thanks to exotic floral blooms and bohemian paisley shapes that contrast rich emerald, sapphire and ruby tones with delicate hues of gum pink, baby blue and lime green.

The one shouldered Aubrey dress (below) – cut from cream coloured crepe with a vibrant jungle print, and designed with a single billowing sleeve finished with a feathered trim – perfectly captures the iconically lavish days of Studio 54.

“Working through the pandemic was intense, but it made us a little more focused,” Borgonovo said during our interview over Zoom. “It made us realise that as a team, we are so passionate about what we do and that we were ready for a new challenge. We have always spoken of the ‘Borgo Woman’ and every dress or look has a specific character that fits into this wider narrative of femininity.” 

Article source: https://www.theweek.co.uk/arts-life/fashion-jewellery/958667/borgo-de-nor-london-fashion-label