BÉHEN
Designer
BÉHEN is a design studio dedicated to the preservation and evolution of Portuguese Intangible Heritage. Founded by Joana Duarte, the brand acts as a bridge between ancestral savoir-faire and contemporary design, collaborating with artisans across Portugal to translate traditional handwork into a modern visual language.
The studio’s research focuses on protecting local craft knowledge through intentional design. Since its foundation, BÉHEN has worked directly with artisanal communities in Madeira, the Azores (Terceira, São Miguel, and São Jorge), Glória do Ribatejo, Nisa, Viana do Castelo, and Arraiolos. By engaging with techniques ranging from hand-embroidery and domestic needlework to weaving and tinwork, the studio experiments with new applications, materials, and scales, unlocking the contemporary potential of these traditions while ensuring their essence remains intact.
BÉHEN’s work has garnered significant acclaim, most recently in 2026 with the “Textile, Artisanat & Savoir-Faire” Award, supported by Sandro Paris and Maison Mode Méditerranée. Other distinctions include the 2022 Golden Globe for Fashion Personality of the Year in Portugal and the 2021 AWE Female Entrepreneurship Prize from the U.S. Embassy. This commitment to heritage extends into the performing arts through an extensive body of work in costume design. BÉHEN has created costumes for the Teatro Nacional D. Maria II in productions such as Casa Portuguesa and A Farsa de Inês Pereira (directed by Pedro Penim), as well as for Auto das Anfitriãs by Pedro Baptista and Inês Vaz, and the play Prometo-me moderna a partir de Frankenstein, directed by Alice Azevedo. Through these collaborations, BÉHEN continues to integrate Portuguese craftsmanship into the heart of contemporary narrative and performance.
The studio’s research focuses on protecting local craft knowledge through intentional design. Since its foundation, BÉHEN has worked directly with artisanal communities in Madeira, the Azores (Terceira, São Miguel, and São Jorge), Glória do Ribatejo, Nisa, Viana do Castelo, and Arraiolos. By engaging with techniques ranging from hand-embroidery and domestic needlework to weaving and tinwork, the studio experiments with new applications, materials, and scales, unlocking the contemporary potential of these traditions while ensuring their essence remains intact.
BÉHEN’s work has garnered significant acclaim, most recently in 2026 with the “Textile, Artisanat & Savoir-Faire” Award, supported by Sandro Paris and Maison Mode Méditerranée. Other distinctions include the 2022 Golden Globe for Fashion Personality of the Year in Portugal and the 2021 AWE Female Entrepreneurship Prize from the U.S. Embassy. This commitment to heritage extends into the performing arts through an extensive body of work in costume design. BÉHEN has created costumes for the Teatro Nacional D. Maria II in productions such as Casa Portuguesa and A Farsa de Inês Pereira (directed by Pedro Penim), as well as for Auto das Anfitriãs by Pedro Baptista and Inês Vaz, and the play Prometo-me moderna a partir de Frankenstein, directed by Alice Azevedo. Through these collaborations, BÉHEN continues to integrate Portuguese craftsmanship into the heart of contemporary narrative and performance.
Lisbon Design Week 2026
