What’s was your nickname at school? I always wanted a cool nickname like most of my mates and I never had one. Although much later a university paper called me top cat! and also friends used to quip” Laja dan life”, taking the laja from my surname ‘DeLaja!

Did you always know you wanted to be a fashion designer? Ummmm, my mum still has all / most my drawings tucked away. My very first sketch at 4 and what do you; know it was a ball gown…lol. I started sewing at 5 and even though I have tried I always keep coming back to what I love the most designing and making beautiful things.

What gets you going? Living, life and of course an amazing pair of shoes!

What do you find off-putting? Ignorance, apathy, bad manners etc

What book do you casually put out on your coffee table to impress visitors? None, I do not need to impress anyone, only if it would be a book I wrote myself or a book about myself or my work, other than that.. Why bother!

What is your favourite item in your closet? That changes with each season, right now for summer every single vest! Brazilians avoid as much clothes as possible especially in summer.

What was your biggest fashion faux pa? Not getting balled over by some fashion celeb, editor etc. I really might not know names, but I do recognise faces, I just kind of treat everyone equally, if that is a faux pas, excusez-moi !

What do you wish people would understand about working in the fashion industry? Not as all glamorous as it’s all cut out to be, and when you run your own gig its quite a juggle between creative integrity and just going main stream commercial.

How would you like people to define your label? “Statement pieces”: definitely not for the faint hearted, to be noticed in, the love for quality and luxury and a celebration of such.

Who is your biggest inspiration? Definitely my mum! the pride that many years later I still meet people who on hearing my name walk up introduce themselves and say” your mum made me learn to love art”! That speaks volumes her dedication to teaching kids to learn and love art!