Luís Contreiras – The Story Behind Pintta

Fashion has been a part of me since I was very young. My name is Luís Contreiras, I was born in the United States, in New York, and I came to Portugal when I was just two years old. I grew up in the Algarve, where I took my first steps into the fashion world as a model when I was still a teenager.

From Model to Creator

Later, I was invited to work in one of the country's most prestigious stores. It was there that I began to have direct contact with brands such as Gucci, D&G, and Armani. I played a decisive role in selecting collections to be sold. It all seemed natural to me – as if I had always done it. Creating combinations, anticipating trends, setting up environments... It was (and is) my way of being in the world.

I'm a creative. Fashion is my means of expression. After many years in this field – as a model, visual merchandiser, decorator, and consultant – I felt it was time to do something truly my own.

The First Pintta Pair

The opportunity arose when a shoe store opened near the place where I worked. I asked them to create a model to my liking, using materials and ideas that represented me. The result was so bold and out of the ordinary that the manufacturer himself called the store owner to ask:

"Is he really sure what he's asking for? Because I don't accept returns."

I was sure. And that pair changed my life.

The next day, I traveled to Milan – the fashion capital of the world – and there the real "show" began. In the streets, in the stores, in the showrooms of the world's most famous brands, people approached me:

"Where did you buy those shoes?"

They were impressed. There was something about the design that caught the eye and aroused curiosity. When I said I'd had them made, I’d get congratulations. Many said: "I'd buy the same ones right now."

The Start of Pintta

That was when I realized it wasn't just for me – I could create something for others.

A few months later, on a family trip to the north of Portugal, I visited artisan factories on my way back to the Algarve. Fate led me to the very factory that had produced that first pair. From there, I developed six models and put them on sale in two stores in the Algarve: one in Portimão and the other in Vilamoura.

The result was surprising. The shoes sold out quickly – even before the sales season. One customer even bought the Pintta shoes that were on the store owner's feet!

The Meaning of "Pintta"

The name came about spontaneously, like everything else. One day, a colleague said to me:

"You've got a lot of pintta!"

And that was that.

“Pintta” with a “t” means:

• Style
• Class
• A little ball in the middle of nothing – a pint.

The first two meanings define the brand: unique style and elegance. The third is represented in our logo and in the pins on all our models, which from above represent a small ball – a “pintta”. It’s not a coincidental detail: it’s the brand’s signature.

Each Pintta shoe conveys identity, presence, and originality. We don’t create conventional products. We create pieces that make people stop, ask questions, and feel. Pieces with soul.

From Portugal to the World

Today, Pintta is recognized both nationally and internationally. We’ve been present at fairs such as MICAM, appeared in international magazines, given interviews, and walked the world’s most prestigious catwalks. In Portugal, two of our models are on display at the Shoe Museum.

It all started with a pair of shoes no one believed possible… and the certainty that I had something different to give to the world.

Pintta is a Way of Being

Pintta is not just a brand. It’s a way of being. It’s for those who want to stand out. It’s for those who have… Pintta.