Electric and eclectic yet poised and chic, Tânia Viegas has a style that is shaking up the digital fashion scene. Growing up in Tavira, a quaint city in Algarve, Portugal, Tânia made the life-changing decision to pursue fashion design at 16 years old.

After moving to the North of Portugal to pursue this dream and begin her studies, she decided to go one step further and apply to the London College of Fashion. There, she furthered her studies in pattern cutting.

“Halfway through my studies in London, I did a placement year in Barcelona where I learnt how to use 3D software for fashion,” says Tânia. “Ever since then, I have been creating everything in 3D.”

Thus began Tânia’s expedition with digital fashion design. One of the major appeals for Tânia was the fact that it was a sustainable way of bringing her creations to life.

“I wouldn’t need to waste any money on fabrics and paper for just testing an idea - that was something that really bothered me when doing physical fashion,” she says. Tânia was no longer constrained to the bonds of physical garment creation and left that part of her fashion journey behind.

Tuning the craft

When it comes to describing Tânia’s specific style - like I have attempted to do at the beginning - she feels she is beyond a specific category of description. Which I get.

“I would like to think that I’m still discovering my style even though some people will probably look at my creations and associate them with something specific,” Tânia says.

“The reason why I don’t want to be associated with a certain style is because I’m afraid of staying in that box. I want to keep exploring my creativity and discovering what I can do. As long as I don’t associate with something, nothing will be able to limit me.”

This way of thinking is what keeps Tânia inspired and perhaps this can be defined as her style in itself.

Even choosing one of her favourite designs poses a bit of a challenge for Tânia, as each one represents a piece of her and is equally a most prized. “I think all my creations at the time of creation are my favourite until I start my next one thinking that the last one was ‘garbage’ - haha!”, she says.

“But if it wasn’t for that, I wouldn’t evolve my creations, so my current project I’m working on is my favourite one right now because I can see how far I have come when looking at it.”

Web3 and me

Since the web3 space is evolving as creatives create and build within the ecosystem, Tânia is one of those community members who is thriving off the energy it breeds. “I went from a lost recent graduate fashion student to a digital fashion designer, and I have been getting so many opportunities just by exposing my creations and creative process,” she explains.

“Of course, I had to be super open minded for these things to happen but it has made such a big difference now when I look back. I am forever grateful to the community of Digitalax and Global Designer Network who gave me that big push!”

As web3 keeps evolving and shaping itself, with this growth comes an abundance of new information to grapple with. In order to “fully” become a digital fashion designer, Tânia feels that it is important to familiarise oneself with emerging concepts and resources in web3.

“There’s still so much I still need to learn to fully become a digital fashion designer/3D artist in the NFT space and the fact that it is so fast-paced, sometimes I do think I’m getting left behind,” she says.

Online spaces like Discord help alleviate this anxiety of constantly feeling left behind, however. It has allowed creatives from across the globe to connect and form friendships over shared skills, visions and passions.

“I do often compare my mindset to when I was studying fashion,” Tânia says. “We were all so reserved and kept everything to ourselves. Now, I’m collaborating with other people that are on the other side of the planet, who I have never met in person and are 100% trusting of each other.”

“We’re sharing resources and knowledge - it still amazes me! I can say that it has changed me for the better. I have always liked to help people but I feel that fashion school has made me go backwards in that regard and Discord communities have helped me return to my original mindset.”

Connect with Tânia Viegas on Twitter here.