The Brand Heritage of Cavalinho
In the world of fashion, few brands can match the rich heritage and dedication to craftsmanship exhibited by Cavalinho. Founded in 1975 by Manuel Jacinto, a Portuguese designer and entrepreneur, Cavalinho has become a symbol of elegance and exclusivity, crafting designs that captivate the hearts of customers worldwide. Rooted in Portugal, our family-owned design house has evolved from the humble beginnings of Manuel and his two sisters, to a global presence, all while staying true to our core values of quality, Portuguese craftsmanship, and attention to detail.
Nellamy to Cavalinho
Cavalinho's journey started under the name Nellamy, then evolving to what he believes a proper representation of what a women means to him. The Horse! No name, just the image. To him, the horse and the women have a few things in common. Powerful presence, strong beings, yet beauty and elegance in their movement. This was paired with the final touch, the color of passion, red!
Now powered by a distinctive logo. We think our customers actually named us. They would visit our retail store partners, before we had our own official branded stores, and they would ask for the horse bag (Mala do Cavalinho ~in Portuguese), eventually leading to the rebranding of our official logo; the horse, on a red background and our name Cavalinho proudly below. What started with just 12 employees, most of whom were family members, and a dream, the brand laid its foundation for success that would be inevitable given the amount of passion and love that went into making our master pieces. Today, Cavalinho proudly employs over 250 team members who share the brand's passion and commitment to excellence.
Craftsmanship & Attention to Detail
One of Cavalinho's defining characteristics is its unwavering dedication to craftsmanship and attention to detail. Every product, be it a handbag, shoe, wallet, or accessory, is meticulously crafted by skilled artisans, some of who have been with us over for 40 years.
Our success can be attributed to our top four key secret ingredients (well not so secret now):
- We use only the highest quality materials from Italy, France, Spain & Portugal.
- Exclusivity, we only do limited productions of all our collections, bringing out new styles and collections almost every month. We design from a European fashion-forward, innovative, wearable luxury perspective.
- Handcrafted in Portugal, using traditional methods since 1975. A production line committed to the art of Portuguese craftsmanship ensures superior quality and supports the preservation of tradition.
Cavalinho Factories - Where our Magic Happens
Expanding Worldwide
While Cavalinho initially gained recognition through 300+ multi-brand stores predominately in Europe, we embraced a new challenge about two decades ago by opening our own official branded "Cavalinho" stores. This was made possible by our product line expansion from just bags and small leather accessories to the addition of our very popular shoes, men's line and travel collections, all still made in Portugal!
This enabled us to have a more direct connection with our customers, fostering a sense of community and strengthening the brand's presence. Opening up a our customer facing presence, coupled with our commitment to prioritize our employees, acknowledging that they are the ambassadors who share the brand's passion with customers, enabled us to gain valuable feedback leading to new and fresh designs that our top fans want!
A Legacy of Resilience and Connection
Throughout its history, Cavalinho has faced numerous challenges, the most recent being the global COVID-19 pandemic. However, through all of it, our customers supported us. For that we thank you. You fueled our resilience and determination. Because of it, we continue to deliver exceptional creations to those same and new loyal customers.
Cavalinho also firmly believes in the power of connection, aspiring to create a sense of family and strength within our communities. We stood by our employees when other companies wouldn't have. By sharing our dreams and vision, Cavalinho family and extended family (that's our team members and you, our customers) foster deep rooted connections. We all appreciate the artistry , craftsmanship, love and passion that goes into each and every piece.
Looking to the Future
As Cavalinho sets its sights on the future, it remains firmly committed to its core values, team members and customers. We continuously strives to exceed existing customer expectations, and delight new customers. We strive to ensure every interaction is one of delight and satisfaction, consistently. With its relatable and heartfelt approach, Cavalinho has built a loyal following of individuals who share a mutual appreciation for timeless style, exceptional quality, and the joy of owning something truly special.
We hope to open more stores in Canada and USA. Our sights are set in Toronto, Montreal, North East USA, South East USA and California. And that us just getting started, but we can only do it with your continued support of these local stores.
