Cle Clements Ribeiro When two talented designers enjoy what they're doing, there's something that cannot be easily remedied: designs burst with color, prints invade dresses and blouses, and traditional elegance becomes somewhat irreverent, as if a torrent of happiness had flooded the work and displaced a certain rigidity and formality with new and unusual creations. This is the case of Brazilian designer Inácio Ribeiro and British designer Suzanne Clements. Their joyful alliance radiates ingenuity and mastery in each and every one of their creations. So it's no surprise, then, that the two designers have become a reference for innovation within British fashion. They met at Central Saint Martins and soon thereafter founded Clements Ribeiro, making a name for themselves with an eclectic, feminine and very un- conventional first collection. Since then, their groundbreaking style has brought them numerous awards for its graceful fusion of elegance, quality and diversity. At its core is an exquisite combination of attention to cut and finish and a sharp sensibility for uniting fab- rics and textures. Desirous of making this unique identity its own, from 2000 until 2007, legendary brand Cacharel ceded creative control of its collections to Clements Ribeiro. Since then, the designers have dedicated their energies exclusively to their own label. Clements Ribeiro is a special coalition, truly unique. It would have been easy to find a niche in the fashion world through tremendous display, excessive ornamentation and dis- parate combinations, yet Clements Ribeiro elected a different path. Still, the special feature of these two designers' work does lie in a kind of studied imbalance, or rather, a balanced oscillation between bohemianism and elegance. Photography by Tim Griffi ths 153 Clements Ribeiro