Born and raised in Brazil, Paula Cademartori has always drawn inspiration from the vibrant energy of tropical landscapes, an influence that continues to define her creative universe of colour, form, and proportion. At 21, she crossed continents to Milan, earning a Master in Fashion Accessories magna cum laude from Istituto Marangoni, followed by a Young Fashion Manager diploma at SDA Bocconi. She went on to spend three years at Versace’s accessories department, developing the technical foundation that would underpin everything she built next.

In 2009, she entered the Vogue Talents contest with a 32-piece shoe collection and was named one of Vogue Italia’s top emerging designers. A year later, she pooled her savings and launched her eponymous handbag line, handcrafted by Italian artisans, and within seasons had become a staple of the global street style circuit. The brand has since expanded to include footwear and small leather goods, and is now distributed across more than 175 points of sales worldwide.

In 2016, Business of Fashion named her one of the 500 people shaping the global fashion industry, the same year she signed a strategic partnership with Renzo Rosso, bringing the brand into the OTB Group’s portfolio alongside Diesel, Marni, and Maison Margiela. She has since collaborated with Nike, Kartell, and Atelier Biagetti.