António Saldanha left Freixo de Espada à Cinta at a young age for the big city, Porto, to learn and work with some of the great masters of tailoring.
It starts by working for all kinds of customers at a time when there was no alternative for those who wanted to buy a suit.
In the main shopping streets of Porto there was no lack of competition. There was a tailoring in almost every door.
It is after the Portuguese revolution of April 25th that there is a change. Many tailor apprentices went to work in factories looking for more stable jobs.
At the time the salary was received by the week. In the factories it was already received per month and better. Ready-to-wear stores appears and many tailor stores close.
António Saldanha chose to continue. After almost a year in France, where he experienced work at a large clothing company, and having many difficulties legalizing, he returns to Porto to settle down.

It is in the studio where everything begins and everything ends. It is there that the customer chooses the fabric, where the design of the suit is defined, the measurements are taken, the cut is made and the piece is executed.
Of course the loyal customer base is done through word of mouth.
Today, António Saldanha is one of the few artists who still insists on not closing the sewing box to give up an art.

Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal
© 2019 Igor Martins (Global Imagens Agency)