d'Agonia's collections: where Viana's love transforms into form, color and memory
In every d'Agonia piece lives a piece of Viana do Castelo. There's the splendor of the stewardesses, the weight of the gold, the meticulous embroidery on the skirts, and the sound of the sea that reaches Ribeira. Our collections aren't born simply from a creative process. They're born from devotion. They're the fruit of a passionate gaze upon the city, its pilgrimages, and its people. They're the contemporary translation of a heritage that lives on.
d'Agonia is, above all, a gesture of love for the land. A tribute to Our Lady of Agony, the farmers, the concertina players, and those who wear the costume with the same pride one wears as a story. Each product pays homage to the hands that embroider, the linen that dries in the wind, and the colors known only to the Minho region. These are the raw materials of our collections: time, faith, and feeling.
The soul of Viana in each collection
d'Agonia's collections are inspired by themes that permeate Viana's identity. They are inspired by the costumes, festivals, and religious and popular symbols that are part of the collective imagination. Each collection is a modern interpretation of the traditions that the pages of "A Falar de Viana" chronicle with such rigor and care.
Some collections celebrate Our Lady of Agony, queen of pilgrimages and an icon of faith and devotion. Others speak of the women of Minho, of the stewardesses who transform gold into poetry. Still others evoke the sea and fishermen, linen and embroidery, folklore and the music that echoes through the streets during the August festivities.
We don't follow trends. We follow memories. What we create isn't reproduction. It's interpretation. Every d'Agonia product, whether a textile, an illustration, a piece of jewelry, or a decorative object, is designed like someone embroidering a scarf. Slowly, with intention. Every detail has a reason. Every color has a root.
Gold, linen and the sea: the pillars of an aesthetic
Viana gold is more than just adornment. It's a language. It's a symbol of prosperity and faith, but also of resilience. In our pieces, gold appears as a nod to this heritage. It appears in the fine lines of typography, in the subtle shine of packaging, in the light that sweeps across a print. It's the echo of Viana's earrings and hearts, reinvented in a contemporary style.
Linen is another essential element. A humble material, born of the earth, crafted with patience and pride, it is the fabric that unites generations. d'Agonia's collections feature it as a symbol of purity and authenticity. Even when you're not physically present, its spirit is there, in the texture, simplicity, and honesty of the design.
And the sea. The sea is a constant presence, as in ancient chronicles that tell of the lives of fishermen, of women who waited by the river, of ex-votos offered to Our Lady in promise of return. It is the sea that gives movement to our creations. The waves inspire the curves, the blue inspires the rhythm, the water is the metaphor of a people who leave but never forget to return.
Between the sacred and the popular
d'Agonia's collections inhabit this territory of balance that defines Viana. Between the sacred and the popular. Between devotion and celebration. Our pieces can be worn with pride on an ordinary day or in a moment of celebration. They are objects that transport the spirit of pilgrimage into everyday life.
Some pieces are inspired by the processions, with their intense colors and the brilliance of the stewardesses. Others reflect the silence of the sanctuary, the seclusion of the faithful, the sound of bells on Sunday afternoon. Each seeks this meeting point between faith and joy, between respect and creativity.
It's this dialogue that makes d'Agonia a unique brand. It's not about selling products. It's about preserving a language. What's created here is continuity. It's the same gesture of the women who embroidered lovers' handkerchiefs, now translated into a design that speaks the language of the present without betraying the soul of the past.
Tradition reinvented
Our collections are the result of ongoing research into the history and culture of Viana do Castelo. We read old editions of "A Falar de Viana," visit museums, and talk to embroiderers and those who preserve ancient knowledge. Each new collection is an exercise in respect and reinvention.
The floral motifs of costumes, the patterns of scarves, popular sayings, and verses from street parties—everything serves as creative material. We work with local artists and artisans to shape ideas that respect the city's DNA. Traditional techniques coexist with modern production methods, resulting in a fusion of authenticity and contemporaneity.
Thus, collections of prints inspired by Minho scarves, limited edition ceramics and textiles, and articles that recreate sayings and verses from Viana emerge. Each of these pieces tells a story, and together they construct a portrait of Viana from within.
A commitment to local culture
d'Agonia is not just a brand. It's a manifesto for the preservation of cultural identity. Our commitment is twofold: to keep tradition alive and to project it into the future. That's why we work side by side with artisans, photographers, historians, and musicians, building bridges between ancient crafts and new creative languages.
The collections also have an educational dimension. We want each product to tell a story, to spark curiosity, to encourage the public to learn more about the festivals, folklore, crafts, and history of Viana. Each piece is accompanied by context, a brief story, a date, and a quote. We believe that shopping can also be an act of culture.
Sustainability and respect
Being from Viana means knowing how to care for the land and the sea. Sustainability isn't a trend for us. It's a legacy. That's why we prioritize local and recyclable materials, work with regional producers, and avoid waste. What we do is born with time and intention. Just like embroidery, which only gains soul when it's done with love.
Each package is designed to last, each fabric is selected for its origin, and each print respects the environment. We believe that beauty must go hand in hand with responsibility. Creating with awareness also honors Viana.
Collections that tell stories
Some collections speak of costumes and gold. Others are born from the colors of the festival or the sounds of the accordion. Others evoke Ribeira, fish, flax, and the Lima River. Still others were born of love, like the lovers' handkerchiefs embroidered with promises. And they all share the same heart.
Each collection is conceived as a chapter in a larger narrative: the living history of Viana do Castelo. Each launch is a celebration and a continuation. There's no rush. There's rhythm. The rhythm of festivals, bells, and pilgrimages. We create when we feel something deserves to be celebrated, not when the market demands it.
Thus, the "August" collection celebrates the month of the Festas d'Agonia. The "Lavradeira" collection pays homage to the women of Viana, with its skirts, pockets, and necklaces. The "Ribeira" collection is inspired by the colors of the river and the old houses that reflect it. The "Santuário" collection celebrates the silence and light that permeates the altar of Our Lady of Agony. The "Cortejo" collection transforms the movement and brightness of the stewards into graphic form. And the "Lume" collection is the flame of devotion that never goes out.
Viana is love
Everything we do is born of this certainty. Viana is love. Love in the hands that create, love in the streets that dance, love in the people who return every year to experience the festivities as if it were always the first time. d'Agonia wants to be part of this collective feeling. It wants to be the memory you carry with you, the object that remains, the gesture that is repeated.
That's why we say that each collection is a promise. A promise of respect, beauty, and continuity. It's not just design. It's belonging. It's a way of saying "we must go to Viana," even when you're far away. It's a way of carrying with you the essence of a city that lives between the sea and the mountains, between the sacred and the popular, between faith and laughter.
The future that honors the past
The future of d'Agonia is the same as that of Viana: to continue celebrating without forgetting. To continue creating without losing the sense of what made us who we are. The collections to come will be born from the same sources: culture, devotion, love. We want each new piece to speak of what unites us. May future generations find here a mirror in which to see themselves and a path to follow.
As long as there are people dancing the vira, embroidering a scarf, and wearing the costume, d'Agonia will continue to exist. Because its purpose is the same as the festivals: celebrating life. Viana is a living culture, not a museum. Our collections are a bridge between past and present, between the steward and the designer, between antique gold and modern light.
Each piece is a small altar to memory and beauty. Each collection is a declaration of love to Viana.
