Alessa
Alessa is a Brazilian womenswear brand founded in 2002 in Rio de Janeiro by designer Alessa Migani. Its collections draw on Brazilian references and humour, and it sells through stores in Ipanema and Paris and international retailers.
| Founded | 2002, Rio de Janeiro |
|---|---|
| Founder | Alessa Migani |
| Stores | Ipanema and Paris |
| Stockists include | Selfridges, Galeries Lafayette |
| Website | alessa.com.br |
What is Alessa?
Alessa is a Brazilian fashion brand founded in 2002 by designer Alessa Migani, a Central Saint Martins design graduate. It began with the Casa da Alessa in Ipanema, a combined atelier and creative space in Rio de Janeiro.
Products and positioning
Alessa's collections are built on Brazilian references, humour and aesthetic experimentation. The Cariocaholic collection celebrates Rio de Janeiro, and one of its signature pieces, a silver dress made with soleil pleating, was designed to reflect light and movement. A Cariocaholic dress appeared on the red carpet of the 2026 Oscars.
The brand is known for staging shows in unconventional settings:
- Christ the Redeemer, with the show later travelling to Paris and Milan
- Sugarloaf Mountain
- The Copacabana Palace
Distribution
Alessa has its own stores on Visconde de Pirajá in Ipanema and on Rue Madame in Paris, and is sold in multi-brand stores in Brazil and abroad, including Selfridges in London and Galeries Lafayette in Paris. It takes part in Texbrasil, the export programme run by Abit and ApexBrasil.
Why it matters
Alessa is one of the Rio de Janeiro labels that have taken a distinctly Brazilian design voice to European department stores.
Frequently asked questions
Who founded Alessa?
Alessa was founded in 2002 in Rio de Janeiro by Brazilian designer Alessa Migani.
Where can you buy Alessa?
Alessa sells through its own stores in Ipanema and Paris and through retailers such as Selfridges and Galeries Lafayette.