ALE FILIZZOLA — A Brazilian Lens on FASHION, IDENTITY & CIRCULAR STYLE
Ale Filizzola (Alessandro Filizzola Araújo), born in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, is a London‑based photographer blending high‑fashion polish with community‑driven authenticity. Since moving to London to study for an MA in Fashion Photography at London College of Fashion (UAL), he has earned accolades—most notably the UK Press Award (2017), where he was named Best Brazilian Photographer in London alefilizzola.
From Belo Horizonte to the Heart of London
Ale began his creative journey studying Graphic Design and later Photography at UFMG in Minas Gerais. His early assignments included documentary work in the Amazon with the Brazilian Red Cross and launching “Conhecer Para Preservar”, a photography‑for‑conservation portfolio in traditional communities of the Serra Geral region of MG. The images were later donated as art exhibitions and reproduced in local schools to boost community visibility and eco‑tourism development alefilizzola.
In 2021, his master’s project “From Local to Global” earned him an A+ with distinction. Ale was the only Brazilian and Latin American to graduate with that grade from LCF/UAL, marking him as a trailblazer in sustainability and fashion photography circles alefilizzola.
Artistry Meets Identity & Circularity
Ale describes himself simply: “I am a Brazilian photographer based in London. I’m specialised in high‑end fashion, portraiture and conceptual storytelling, and recently I did the MA Fashion Photography at London College of Fashion / UAL” alefilizzola.
His signature style fuses editorial elegance with a portrait photographer’s sensitivity to gestures, textures and cultural context—often using a blend of analogue film and digital techniques for a tactile yet refined aesthetic.
His flagship publication, titled “From Local to Global”, is more than a photo book. It’s a fashion‑photography magazine exploring sustainability, circular economy, labour fairness, cultural identity, and decolonial perspectives in Portuguese and English. The Portuguese subtitle reads: “A economia circular no epicentro da moda artesanal no Brasil.” Within, case‑studies include community fashion cooperatives in Belo Horizonte and the pop‑funk aesthetic of Anitta’s Girl from Rio campaign—seen by Ale as a vibrant act of cultural reclamation alefilizzola.
Portraiture with Purpose
In 2018, Ale held a solo exhibition titled Portraits: “The Capture of Emotions, Attitudes, Lifestyle, Symbols and Social Environment” at Favela Arts Gallery, Made in Brasil Boteco, in London. Curated by Clara Rocha, the exhibition spanned reportage portraits from Brazil to cosmopolitan London, all threaded by visual statements on cultural sensitivity. It was a striking homage to identity and collective memory—and commemorated the Press Award result just a year earlier alefilizzola.
During the COVID‑19 pandemic, Ale paused editorial shoots to publish “Tales from the Time of the Coronavirus”, a photo‑essay reflecting on resilience, self‑expression, and new rhythms of everyday style seen through windows and screens—using collage, pinhole, webcam capture and analog film to fuse the intimate with the universal .
Recently, he toured the Ayahuasca ritual site Jardim dos Orixás, in Diamantina, Minas Gerais—producing a rite‑documentary series that frames religion, herbal medicine and sustainability in dialogue. These images, part of his Authorial / Documentary series, extend his practice beyond fashion into cultural immersion and storytelling from Brazil’s sacred geographies alefilizzola.
Why He Matters
| Quality | What It Brings |
|---|---|
| Dual Heritage | Brazilian roots with London sensibility—Ale works across continents, from Belo Horizonte to Kentish Town. |
| Fashion with Ethics | He pushes circular fashion beyond trend, envisioning photo‑editorials as vehicles for sustainability messaging. |
| Community at the Core | From favela fashion cooperatives to indigenous rituals, his portraits honor people over place. |
| Narrative Texture | Whether film grain, watercolor sketch or collage, his visual layering evokes emotional editions of culture and identity. |
“From my master’s project, From Local to Global, I’ve been consciously trying to figure out what would constitute a ’genuine Brazilian identity’.”
—Ale Filizzola (May 2021) alefilizzola
For Lifestyle & Magazine Editors
Ale is available for:
- High‑fashion and editorial campaigns that celebrate diversity and sustainable craftsmanship.
- Portrait commissions sensitive to cultural stories and visual nuance—from musician personalities to fashion artisans.
- Magazine and brand collaborations interested in bridging Brazil’s creative soul with global style commentary.
His upcoming exhibitions and portfolio updates can be found via alefilizzola.com and on Instagram @alefilizzola.
