The Brazilian fashion designer Carlos Miele still has his base in São Paolo, where he grew up, despite being hugely popular on the international fashion circuit. He held his first show in London in 2002 and followed this with his debut in New York in 2003. 

Carlos's work is known for its mixture of the traditional and the high tech, with lycra and macramé seen side-by-side.  His clothes are popular with celebrities such as the Williams sisters and Gisele Bündchen.

Carlos trains and employs disadvantaged women in his hometown in time-honoured methods of sewing and patchwork, paying them five times Brazil's average wage.  Hand embroidered patterns, inspired by traditional Brazilian designs, characterise his work.  He takes social responsibility seriously and aims to use social work to revive Brazil's poorest neighbourhoods.