About Bella
Hi, I'm Bella, the founder and designer behind Bella Loves Patterns.
Growing up in the northeast of Brazil, I spent
hours making clothes for my Barbie dolls, often recreating outfits I'd seen on
television or in magazines. My mum was a seamstress, as were my aunts, so
sewing was simply part of everyday life.
For the women in my family, sewing wasn't a
hobby. It was how they supported their families. It was a profession, a skill
passed from one generation to the next and, at times, a necessity. I grew up
watching beautiful garments come to life through patience, precision and care.
My mum always had incredibly high standards.
She taught me that you can tell how well something is made not only by the
outside, but by the care taken on the inside. The thread had to match the
fabric perfectly. The checks had to line up. The finishing mattered just as
much as the parts nobody would ever see. Those lessons stayed with me, and they
continue to influence everything I create today.
For me, sewing quickly became something morethan simply making clothes. I loved understanding how garments were puttogether.
If I saw something I admired, I wanted to work out how it had been made and
whether I could recreate it myself. Before long, I was making Barbie clothes,
bags and other handmade creations to sell. Looking back, I realise I've always
loved creating things and building something of my own.
I studied Garment Production and Fashion
Design in Brazil
because I wanted to understand clothing properly—not just how to sew it, but
how to design it, draft it and bring it to life.
I enjoyed the technical and creative side
of fashion, I soon realised that the traditional fashion industry wasn't where
I saw my future.
of fashion, I soon realised that the traditional fashion industry wasn't where
I saw my future.
Working to interpret someone else's vision, the constant deadlines,
networking and pressure never suited my personality. What I truly loved was
understanding how garments worked, solving technical problems and creating
something that reflected my own ideas.
Over the years, I worked in luxury fashion, specialising in garment development, fittings and pattern cutting.
I was fortunate to work alongside incredibly talented craftspeople and contribute to garments for some of the world's leading fashion houses.
Those years taught me that a beautiful garment is never just about how it looks. It's about how it fits, how it moves and how every seam, dart and construction detail works together. I learnt to appreciate the craftsmanship hidden inside a garment just as much as the design everyone sees on the outside.
How inspiration becomes a pattern
Inspiration rarely arrives as a finished design.
More often, it starts with a silhouette, an interesting collar or a construction detail that catches my attention.
I love understanding how garments are put together and exploring new ways to interpret familiar ideas. Trends may inspire the starting point, but every Bella Loves Pattern is developed through my own process of drafting, testing and refining.
I don't believe every design has to reinvent fashion. Sometimes the most rewarding challenge is improving the fit, simplifying a construction method or helping sewists discover a technique they haven't tried before.
That's why I love designing coats and tailored garments. They combine creativity, engineering and craftsmanship—and there's always something new to learn
"Every pattern begins with curiosity."
I draw my own technical flats, draft every pattern, sew multiple toiles,
refine the fit and write every instruction myself. Each pattern is an
opportunity to learn something new, and in many ways every project still feels
like being a student again—but with years of experience helping me understand
why every little decision matters.
One thing you'll notice about my patterns is
that they don't avoid techniques that might seem challenging.
That's intentional.
I don't believe beautiful garments should only
be achievable for experienced sewists. I believe they're achievable when
someone takes the time to guide you properly. That's why my instructions are so
detailed, why I photograph every step and why I spend so much time refining
them.
"I don't simplify the garment. I simplify the journey."
The challenge remains because that's where the greatest reward lies.
There are few feelings more satisfying than
looking at a finished garment and thinking,
"I
made this."
That's the feeling I've loved ever since I was
a little girl making clothes for my Barbies.
It's also the feeling I hope every Bella Loves
Patterns customer experiences.
If one of my patterns helps you tackle
something that once felt beyond your abilities, teaches you a new skill and
leaves you standing back with pride at what you've created, then I've achieved
exactly what I set out to do.
I hope my patterns give you the confidence to sew garments you'll be proud to wear for years to come.