Be contagious
I created Viral because I wanted to build something that would reflect who I am and that would speak to you.
To show that beauty can rise from what has been forgotten. That we don't have to be like everyone else to shine, that our greatest strength is our vulnerability.
Viral is just that, a singular and contagious beauty.
The attachment
My name is Dalida.
My parents, both Portuguese, emigrated at a very young age to escape the austere regime of the time. They found their refuge in France, land of great aspirations but also of great sacrifices.
I grew up between these two cultures, never truly belonging to either of them.Until the day that I decided to return to Portugal, for good. It was thanks to this homecoming that I finally figured out who I was.
Today, I share this attachment with my children, who accompany me on this adventure. Viral has become our rallying point. Together, we bring matter to life, while always making sure to respect it.
It's an ongoing transmission, a link between my story, theirs, and that of those who create alongside us.
Vintage leather, our element
I've always loved thrifting. It reminds me of my childhood, the distinctive smell of those old clothes we keep and that remain etched in our memories.
Some pieces are still pristine, having survived decades, they evoke such lovely memories... those of my little dresses, carefully preserved by my mother for my children.
That's where my obsession with vintage was born.
While I could easily find what I was looking for in clothes, accessories were a completely different story. The selection was very limited and the quality left much to be desired, because a bag isn't something you sell, it's something you pass down.
So I decided to create what was missing: exclusive pieces made from the leather that nobody wanted anymore.
Items created to merge into your story and travel through time by your side.
Hands that know
Now that you know who I am and what shaped my childhood, you understand why it was obvious for me to have my pieces made in Portugal.
The process is always the same:
First, I select my leathers with my leatherworker, it’s my favorite part. I let my imagination run wild and visualize what I'm going to create.
Then, it's off to the workshop where everything will be put together and crafted by skilled hands. There, we refine the design together. What pieces will we make? How many can we make with each piece of leather? What kind of jewelry will we need?
We work as a team, with trust and transparency. I monitor the progress of my creations and make adjustments when necessary. Conveniently, everything takes place within a 60km radius of my home!
Luxury is about giving time to things.
A bag supposed to last a lifetime cannot be created with urgency.
If you needed a reason
I could come up with a thousand and one reasons... But I prefer to tell you, as the philosopher Blaise Pascal said:
"The heart has its reasons which reason knows nothing of."
Viral is a form of revenge. My revenge, and the one many of you wish to take today in your quest for identity.
How many people would do anything to discover who they truly are, to finally love and trust themselves?
Through my creations, I simply aspire to give you the permission to be who you are. Without comparing yourself, without screaming, just you, entirely legitimate.
No matter what your story is, Viral celebrates what makes you unique. combined with a durable and eco-conscious approach, makes them a truly worthwhile investment.
