Fashion career profile
Ronaldo Fraga
Ronaldo Fraga is a Brazilian fashion designer, writer and storyteller whose collections draw on literature, popular culture, regional craft and contested histories. Born in Belo Horizonte, he trained in fashion design at the Federal University of Minas Gerais and pursued postgraduate studies at Parsons School of Design in New York and Saint Martins in London. He introduced his namesake label at the Phytoervas Fashion event in São Paulo in 1996, then became part of the São Paulo Fashion Week group in 2001. Rather than treating fashion as seasonal product alone, Fraga uses collections as narrative projects, revisiting writers such as Guimarães Rosa and Carlos Drummond de Andrade, the Jequitinhonha Valley’s ceramic dolls, and the work of singer Nara Leão. His practice also includes costume design, books and employment-generating craft partnerships with Brazilian communities. The label’s regional focus is not a nostalgic frame: it links local memory and technique to contemporary social questions and international design dialogue.
- Role
- Founder & Designer, Ronaldo Fraga
- Nationality
- Brazilian
- Age
- 58
- Education: UFMG; postgraduate study at Parsons and Saint MartinsThe publisher’s profile lists fashion training at UFMG and postgraduate study in New York and London. · Editora Cobogó
- Label launch: Phytoervas Fashion, 1996Fraga launched his namesake label at the São Paulo event. · Editora Cobogó
- Runway platform: São Paulo Fashion Week, from 2001The publisher dates his entry into the São Paulo Fashion Week group to 2001. · Editora Cobogó
- International recognition: Designs of the Year, Design Museum London, 2014He was one of seven designers selected globally to present work in the exhibition. · Editora Cobogó
- Publication: Memórias de um estilista coração de galinha, 2024The 2024 book combines autobiography, childhood memories and reflections on fashion. · FICA Goiânia
- 1996 — Launches his namesake label at Phytoervas FashionThe Belo Horizonte designer enters São Paulo’s fashion calendar.
- 2001 — Joins São Paulo Fashion WeekBecomes part of the group of designers showing at the platform.
- 2011 — Receives TRIP Transformadores recognitionThe publisher lists the award among his contributions to Brazilian fashion and culture.
- 2014 — Selected for Designs of the Year in LondonThe Design Museum exhibition selects seven designers worldwide, including Fraga.
- 2024 — Publishes a memoirMemórias de um estilista coração de galinha combines personal memories and reflections on fashion.