Catarina and Benjamin are the founde![]()
rs of the Portuguese vintage lighting brand
[ ALFAMA CHIC ]
Year founded: 2023
Design and office location: Portugal 🇵🇹
Raw material sourcing location: Portugal 🇵🇹
Manufacturing and production location: Lisbon - Portugal 🇵🇹
Meet the Founders
Behind Alfama Chic is a Franco-Portuguese duo united by a shared passion for beautiful objects, the art of thrifting, and authentic atmospheres. Benjamin Laurent, French, graduated in strategic marketing and has developed extensive experience in the digital field through several years working in digital marketing. Naturally curious, he has long had a deep interest in design and architecture, two worlds that inspire him every day. By his side, Catarina Laurent, born in Lisbon, spent 22 years in France, between Paris and Lyon. Graduated in marketing and international business, she pursued a career in international trade before following her creative impulse toward what has always passionate her: decoration. Their shared passion? Thrifting, discovering unique, history-laden objects, and giving them a new life. In 2022, the couple decided to settle in Lisbon. During a visit to the famous "Feira da Ladra" flea market, nestled in the heart of the picturesque Alfama district, their project took shape. It was there, among the stalls overflowing with forgotten treasures, that they fell under the spell of magnificent vintage lamps, true gems. This moment of inspiration became the turning point. They then imagined a project that reflected them: authentic, creative, and full of character. Thus Alfama Chic was born, a brand dedicated to creating unique vintage lighting designed to enhance interiors with poetry and personality.
About the Brand
Alfama Chic is a Portuguese brand based in Lisbon, specializing in the creation of vintage lighting. It was born from a fascination with antique lighting and the desire to give it a second life that is aesthetic, functional, and environmentally friendly. Crafted with care, their lamps embody eco-responsible production designed to minimize their environmental footprint. They select durable and local materials: timelessly charming brass lamp bases, or Portuguese marble bases made from marble offcuts salvaged from quarries in Estremoz, in the south of the country. Every detail is crafted with a focus on preservation, reuse, and enhancement. The brand also offers a collection of elegant and delicate table lamps, designed with re-issued glass globes made in Portugal, thus continuing the glassmaking tradition while adapting it to today's needs. At Alfama Chic, every lamp is a unique piece, crafted to tell a story, awaken an emotion, and illuminate your interiors with softness and a lot of charm. They are not merely decorative objects, but witnesses of time, subtly reinvented to complement contemporary décor. Alfama Chic is much more than a lighting company. It is a love story for the past, a tribute to authenticity, and a strong commitment to the future.
Eco-Responsible Impact
Alfama Chic is fully committed to a responsible, ethical, and sustainable path: small-scale production in a workshop in Lisbon. Each lamp embodies a vision of committed design that respects the environment. The brand uses glass globes from antique lamps that are thrifted and selected for their timeless beauty. Each glass globe is enhanced with a brass or marble base. By transforming them, they give these lamps a second life, restoring their shine and presence without ever betraying their original essence. This upcycling process not only preserves objects laden with history but also offers unique pieces deeply rooted in a circular economy model. The brand has also developed models with re-issued glass globes in modernized vintage shapes, designed and manufactured in Portugal using the expertise of Portuguese glassworks to promote local production. The choice of materials reflects the brand's commitment to durability and transparency. They select durable and local materials: Portuguese marble bases made from offcuts salvaged from quarries in Estremoz, Portugal. This marble, already extracted for other uses, is thus enhanced within a respectful production framework, limiting the extraction of new resources. This approach also supports the local economy and Portuguese artisanal expertise. The electrical components of their lamps are carefully selected from suppliers based in Europe, thus ensuring the quality, compliance, and traceability of the raw materials. Sustainability is at the heart of every manufacturing step. They use high-quality materials that meet CE standards, ensuring both safety and longevity.
The Brand's Values
🔁 Upcycling ↓
Alfama Chic uses glass globes from antique lamps. Each glass globe is enhanced with a brass or marble base. The marble table lamp bases are made from Portuguese marble salvaged from offcuts in quarries in Estremoz, Portugal. Alfama Chic helps reduce waste and gives materials a second life.
🌀 Zero-Waste Lifestyle ↓
No products are made for single use, and durable materials are used.
👤 Expertise ↓
Each lamp is meticulously designed, assembled, and wired, respecting artisanal expertise and the attention to detail that makes the difference.
🇪🇺 Made in Europe ↓
All lamps are manufactured in the brand's workshop in Lisbon.
💎 Limited Edition ↓
Items are produced in quantities suited to the number of orders.
🗓️ Made to Order ↓
They produce to order , so there are no end-of-line items and therefore no waste.
✅ Certified ↓
All the electrical components of their lamps are CE certified.
🏠 Made Locally ↓
Alfama Chic lighting is designed and manufactured in Portugal, following a local and committed production model. By relying on short supply chains and collaborations with local artisans, the brand limits its environmental impact while promoting local expertise. This manufacturing method guarantees artisanal quality, transparent traceability, and reflects a strong commitment: to offer sustainable, ethical, and environmentally friendly creations.
[ Alfama Chic is a Portuguese vintage lighting brand, born in Lisbon from a passion for antique objects, which carefully and poetically reinvents unique pieces combining craftsmanship, contemporary design, and ecological commitment. ]
