Susana is from the Azores Islands in Portugal and after finishing her BA degree in Fashion Knitwear she felt the natural next step for her would be to continue to specialize in knitwear through the MA Digital Fashion program, which has access to some of the most advanced computerized and 3D technology in the country. Susana has won a number of awards as well as being a finalist in the Fashioning the Future competition run by the Centre for Sustainable Fashion. Susana’s collection is inspired by particular African Tribes whose mourning traditions are marked by joyful rituals, extolling the good memories with strength and determination to regain joy in life. During the ritual, wounds are created in the skin as a representation of the emotional injury and as the wound heals the person not only feels they are healing physically but also emotionally.  Susana’s collection is highly experimental using new technology which creates a new type of garment that pushes the boundaries of the shaping properties of knit – with the ultimate goal of dressing real women with garments that give them shape and support in all the right places.  Susana has worked in collaboration with Parrillus Factory, Barcelona. Susana has used stunning statement jewellery to accessorize her collection which was been hand crafted in Portugal in collaboration with Miguel Garrido. After graduation Susana would like to work with a high end brand to hone her skills as a designer with a view to setting up her own label in the future.