Collaborative Projects
Bailha is based on collaborative work to expand the impact of this traditional know-how, creating synergies with artists, hotels, restaurants, social projects and local communities.
Through these collaborations, we place embroidery in contemporary contexts, giving it a more active role in society – as a means of inclusion, education, cultural valorisation and sustainability.
2024
Bailha x Barceló Funchal Oldtown
Hand Embroidered Napkins
The tradition of Madeira embroidery finds a new place at the Barceló Funchal Oldtown Hotel through a special collaboration with Bailha. Inspired by the Atlantic Ocean and the island’s natural wealth, these ‘Made in Madeira’ linen napkins are a fusion of heritage and contemporary design.Hand Embroidered Napkins
The ‘Terra’ and ‘Mar’ collections translate Madeira’s identity into meticulously crafted embroidery, highlighting iconic elements such as the dragon tree, the black scabbardfish and figures from the island’s daily life. Each piece is embroidered by hand using traditional Madeira embroidery stitches – corda stitch, garanito, matiz, bastido, etc. – in a navy blue colour, evoking the historical link between embroidery and the Atlantic.
More than a decorative detail, this collection transforms the dining experience at Barceló Funchal Oldtown into a sensory and cultural immersion, where each embroidery tells a story and invites you to rediscover the essence of Madeira.
2024
Hugo Brazão x Bailha
Our collaboration
Inspired by a wall piece, made of acrylic resin and pigments, which shows the accused cat, this cat is embroidered here from the point of view of Koko – a muscular cat capable of doing what we humans think is physically impossible, becoming the focal point of our new embroidered pieces.
Each piece in the collection is a harmonious blend of Hugo’s art and the intricate hand embroidery of Bailha’s embroiderers. Using traditional Madeira embroidery techniques, our embroiderers bring Hugo’s imaginative designs to life, creating unique and exclusive pieces that tell a story of how different generations of artists can work together.
2023
Trégua
This collaboration showed how art and crafts can be powerful tools for social transformation. During the Madeira Embroidery Residency, held in November 2023, participants from Funchal Prison had the opportunity to learn how to embroider, challenging stereotypes and creating unique handmade pieces. This artistic residency guided by David Oliveira and Helena da Silva, at the invitation of Catarina Claro and Cristiana Sousa, not only revealed unexpected talents, but also opened up new possibilities for the social reintegration of the participants, proving that craft skills can be an option for a more dignified future.
