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Re.set is Mirakaya’s Spring-Summer 2026 collection, created by the Portuguese slow-fashion brand at its atelier in Castelo Branco. T Jornal spoke to Raquel Pinto, the brand’s founder and Creative Director, about the inspiration behind the new collection, the vision underpinning the project, the challenges of growing without compromising its principles and its ambitions for the future.
“At Mirakaya, I don’t design for a season; I design for a more sustainable wardrobe. Over the course of the brand’s journey, I realised that the pieces can be worn throughout the year and, for that reason, I create drops within each collection,” explains the designer.
This philosophy is reflected in Re.set, a collection intended to represent a return to essentials. Minimalist design and the influence of Japanese aesthetics continue to shape the brand’s identity, with an emphasis on simplicity and the balance between form and function.
“In this collection, the Japanese influence translates into fluid and comfortable silhouettes, asymmetrical cuts, balanced volumes and pieces designed to accompany different moments in life,” explains Raquel Pinto. The inspiration is also evident in the colour palette, dominated by natural tones complemented by touches of bold colour.
Key pieces in the collection include the Long Shirt Dress, “a best seller that is redesigned every year”, and the ORI jacket, which she describes as “a trendy piece that is also timeless”.
Sustainability, however, is the common thread running through both the collection and the brand itself. “Everything starts with the design. For me, the most sustainable garment is the one that continues to be worn many years after it is purchased,” she says.
That durability is built through a series of details that often go unnoticed by the customer: the positioning of a seam, the balance of a sleeve, the depth of a pocket, the fit of the armholes, the use of piping or hidden seams. Together, these elements determine how a garment fits, follows the movement of the body and withstands wear. The ORI jacket and LA FRANGE blazer are two of the exclusive, numbered pieces in the Re.set collection, while the Long Shirt Dress continues to be the brand’s bestseller.
The careful use of resources comes at a later stage: surplus fabric from these and other pieces in the collection is repurposed to create new designs for capsule editions. “Creativity has to coexist with careful resource management,” stresses Raquel Pinto, adding that she prioritises precise pattern cutting, balanced proportions within the oversized aesthetic, functionality and high-quality materials.
In a market defined by speed, permanent discounting and constant product turnover, Mirakaya’s founder acknowledges that maintaining this approach is not always easy.
“We live in a market driven by speed, constant discounting and the continuous renewal of products. As a small Portuguese brand based in the interior of the country, there is often pressure to keep up with that pace, alongside all the bureaucracy. The biggest challenge has been maintaining consistency,” she says.
Nevertheless, she believes the brand has managed to grow without compromising its values, considering consistency one of its main assets. “When we don’t compete on volume, we have to compete on trust,” she sums up.
This is also the trust she seeks to build through close relationships with customers, giving them insight into the reality behind the atelier. “I aim to build a community that identifies with the brand’s values,” she says.
This proximity also helps customers understand the work behind each creation. At Mirakaya’s atelier, developing a garment can take between four and six months, in a process that includes research, design, pattern development, material selection, prototype production, successive adjustments and wear testing before final production.
With consumers increasingly aware of the impact of their purchasing choices, Raquel Pinto believes there is room for growth, alongside greater appreciation for Portuguese manufacturing.
“We are seeing a shift towards customers who are increasingly conscious of the impact of their choices. However, there is still an important journey ahead in terms of recognising the value of independent design and small-scale production,” she says.
From her perspective, “Made in Portugal represents technical expertise, proximity, flexibility and a textile tradition. For our customers, that origin conveys trust.”
It is precisely this trust that she wants to underpin Mirakaya’s growth. Rather than simply increasing production, the aim is to make better decisions and consolidate a distinctive identity.
“A strong identity is one of the greatest differentiating factors in an increasingly competitive market,” she stresses.
Although the domestic market still accounts for the largest share of the brand’s turnover, the plans are to strengthen its presence in other European markets and in the United States. To achieve this, Raquel Pinto is looking for retailers, agents and platforms that share Mirakaya’s positioning.
“Small brands have an enormous capacity for innovation. They can experiment with new approaches, develop differentiated products and work very closely with their customers. By valuing domestic production, they help strengthen the competitiveness of the Portuguese industry and demonstrate that it is possible to create value without resorting to mass production,” she concludes.