DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT
Ninna Bajotto and Sofia Serafim are challenging the superficiality of the TikTok generation with handmade party dresses that elevate authenticity and sophistication with every stitch.
In an era obsessed with likes and lightning-fast trends, two teenage girls from Porto Alegre chose a different path: entrepreneurship in the fashion industry. Ninna and Sofia, both 15, created a brand of original, handcrafted party dresses. What began as a school entrepreneurship project quickly outgrew the classroom and turned into a real business, one they now manage alongside their studies.
In contrast to mass production and fast fashion, the standout feature of their work is the artisanal nature of each piece. From sketch to final finish, every dress is created through fully manual processes, ensuring exclusivity and meticulous attention to detail. The girls are hands-on throughout every stage of the creation process: they design the styles, select the fabrics, collaborate with sewists, and oversee the final assembly. This direct involvement gives their creations a distinct personality and reinforces the brand’s authorial DNA – something rarely seen in teen-focused fashion ventures.
More than just showcasing the final product, Ninna and Sofia make it a point to share the behind-the-scenes of their production. On social media, they post photos and videos that reveal the manual labor and hours invested into each dress – a level of transparency that stands in stark contrast to the rush and superficiality of fast fashion. This “hands-on” approach resonates with consumers who seek authenticity and actual value in what they wear, rather than subscribing to the disposable logic of fast trends.
The girls’ commitment to craftsmanship is even more striking in a luxury market that is not always as “handmade” as it claims to be. Recently, footages of the production processes behind luxury handbags sparked controversy by revealing mechanized steps – including stitching – that surprised many consumers and reignited debate about the true essence of luxury fashion. In stark contrast to this industrialized backdrop, the work of the two Brazilian teens emerges as an antidote to inauthenticity.
We want everyone to understand they’re wearing a story. Our goal isn’t just to sell dresses, but to show the process, the hands behind each piece, and the dedication in every detail.
— Ninna and Sofia, Founders of NS Dress
This philosophy captures the core of their initiative: beyond aesthetics or social media likes, every creation carries purpose and a tangible connection between maker and wearer.
Despite their young age, Ninna and Sofia show remarkable maturity by choosing quality over quantity – producing a limited number of exclusive dresses with a focus on excellence rather than scale. Without significant investment or celebrity endorsements, they are already standing out through the originality of their proposal and the courage to follow their own vision. In an era of instant gratification and disposable products, these two teens are proving that it’s possible to create something meaningful and sophisticated: unique, handmade pieces that captivate not just through beauty, but through the story and care sewn into every detail.
NS Dress
www.nsdress.com.br | @_nsdress
NS Dress is where originality meets the moment. Founded by friends Ninna and Sofia, the brand was born from a simple truth – they were over seeing carbon-copy dresses in every store and at every party. So they designed what didn’t exist: statement pieces imagined by girls, for girls. Every dress is an original, created by those living this stage of life, crafted with premium fabrics, and finished with hand embroidery. With exclusive cuts, flawless silhouettes, and details you won’t find anywhere else, NS Dress exists for the ones who refuse to blend in.
All images courtesy of NS Dress.
Tags: artisanal, clothing, creative process, designer spotlight, dresses, entrepreneurship, fashion, fashion design, fashion designers, fashion education, fashion illustration, Gen Z, girl dresses, hand-made, hand-stitched, Ninna Bajotto, NS Dress, party dresses, partywear, Porto Alegre, production, social media, Sofia Serafim, students, teen fashion, teens, TikTok, Top, young designers
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