SARDINES

It was just an anonymous and pale Sardine. It sought colour and participated in the “Festas de Lisboa” (Lisbon Festivities). As the event’s icon, it deserved a monumental illustration. So, I tried to create a symbiosis between the sardine and the Santa Justa Elevator. The Santa Justa Sardine, once anonymous and pale, now parades in colour and tradition. Designer: Frederico Lencastre

The sardine, with its silvery blue and black hues, darker on the back and lighter on the sides and belly, is found in the northeast Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea, where it dwells on coastal areas, between 25 and 100 meters deep. It undertakes migrations in large shoals that protect fish from predators during the day, in deeper waters, and move at night-time to shallower waters to feed on algae and small crustaceans. It reproduces from October to April, a time when sardines are leaner and not so tasty. The sardine is the most popular fish in summer festivals and fairs in Portugal, as well as the main species used in the Portuguese canning industry.

The first Sardine was not a laboratory experiment. She didn’t come out ‘all nice and lively’ from some advertising think tank. She jumped from the fish auction onto the scanner and turned into a serious case of communication by an editorial design studio, Silvadesigners. Lisbon offers her the honours of a city trademark and people painting her every year by the thousands. Designer: Silvadesigners

The Tagus Sardine has the best view of Lisbon. From the river she sees the people, the roofs and the Castle; she sees the bridge and the boats, and the departures and returns that make the city live. She is a lucky Sardine – and, as Amália used to say, She has water, she knows how to swim / I wish I were a sardine. Designer: Sofia Fischer

The Tenório Sardine is a true portent of the Portuguese guitar. Known in the most exclusive world of Fado for being a bon vivant, irresistibly seductive and a confessed lover of the nightlife and “escabeche” (pickle), Tenório oozes charm through all of his scales. And no gilt-head bream, mullet or ray can resist his charms. Designer: Paulo Galindro

Because it is of the Portuguese, father of broad seas, to want, to be able to simply:be nothing. And be someone in a sea of people. Be a person. Flood. Dry out. Cry. Float. Come up and dive in again. Be fished. Be gutted and survive: the whole sea, or the empty destroyed waterfront – The whole, or its nothing (In D. João Infante de Portugal, Message, Fernando Pessoa). Designer: Maria Miguel

The High Tide Sardine is an allusion to deep sea fishing, symbolizing both the lull and the storm that diminishes us. The whole of the sea inside of a sardine. Designer: Filipa Oliveira

Rendez-vous in Paris, Pont des arts, 16h13, the wind blows gently… Designer:Rebecca Dautremer

Rendez-vous in Paris, Pont des arts, 16h24, the sky becomes overcast… Designer:Rebecca Dautremer

Zé Povinho is now a superhero. After having courageously faced the austerity policies, the interference of Troika and the corruption scandals, behold our Zé is still standing. Standing tall, he shows courage and perseverance and is ready to face all tempests with a sole purpose: to succeed. Super Zé, who is alive inside each one of us, resists, persists and never gives up. Designer: Ana Gomes

Inspired by the street vendors of the popular roasted chestnuts, this sardine, still sizzling, is made of tradition, filled with flavour and taste for what is ours. Designer: Rui Fazenda

The Constellation sardine
Has the soul of an artist
Has the guts
Optimistic Salero;
Boasting cheerful bright colours
Wandering across Lisbon
In love with such beautiful light
That echoes throughout the city Designer: José Serrano

Inspired by the love verses that the girls of the Minho region embroidered on handkerchiefs for their boyfriends, this sardine represents the promise of endless love. The Sweetheart Handkerchiefs are recognised by their strong colours, love symbols and spelling errors. It was a romantic allurement ritual where the sewing needles were the keyboard at that time. Designer: Oupas! Design

“O Grande Cão da Finança” (the Big Dog of Finance) was on the cover of the magazine “A Paródia “, in 1900, and it caricatures the finances wearing the collar of the deficit. “No matter how many cakes they gave it; the damn dog won’t die!”. It is the result of the despair that Raphael Bordallo Pinheiro begins to feel in the face of political manipulation and opportunism, raising the awareness of the society at the time. Never goes out of style. Designer: Raphael Bordallo Pinheiro

If there is something that characterizes Lisbon Festivities, it is the bailaricos (popular dancing)! And why not add our sardine to the dance? But because the confusion is too great and stepping is a constant, it’s not simple dress for this occasion. It’s important to have the right footwear to dance! Designer: Ana.F.Borges

The popular saying “He who laughs last, laughs best” was the starting point of this sardine. Sometimes the “last” one is the one who becomes the winner and ends up flying higher. “Bando” may go alone or in a group, but goes further for sure. Designer: Ana Catarina Pinto

A sardine that reflects the contagious joy of the Popular Saints’ festivities, inspired by the work of Andy Warhol, who used bright and diverse colours to represent the impersonality of objects and celebrities, bringing art closer to everyday life. Portuguese tradition is pop too. Designer: Arianne Amores

Miss Castelinhos” is based on the film “A Canção de Lisboa” [The Song of Lisbon], from 1933, and its main character, Alice, played by Beatriz Costa. All the details (thimble, pins and embroidery) portray the occupation of the character, a seamstress from the Castelinhos Neighbourhood. A Miss Sardine. Designer: Lia Cardoso e Luiz Miguel Pedroso

Created in the Faculty of Industrial Design, at a university in Brazil, the sardine fled and disguised herself with a lost skin, to cross the tropical forest, heading towards the sea. A sardine on the run, camouflaged. But what an unexpected look! Designer: Luíz Felipe Ziul

The sardine is always with us. Not only does it fulfil us, but it also presents us with the beautiful sounds of the sea and of the soul of Lisbon. What you can hear in the song of the sardines is endless. Let this magical music break free within you. Designer: Olga Shtonda

It’s called “Freedom” because it was inspired by the Carnation Revolution. The character of Salgueiro Maia, emblematic character of the 25th of April, was used as the basis for representing this member of the armed forces. Red carnation Sardine, symbol of the peaceful revolution. Designer: Patrícia Cardoso