Manuela studied fa­shion and theatrical costume in high scho­ol and went on to get a degree in Fashion Design at Istituto Marangoni, graduating in 2000. She was assistant designer for Juni­chi Hakamaki Milanoand then designed both mens’ and womenswear for Versace while using her experience of the fashion industry to tutor collection development, fashion illustra­tion and technical drawing at Istituto Marango­ni. She has gone on to become chief designer for Costume National Womenswear and C’N’C Womenswear, responsible with her team for all C’N’C and Costume National’s womenswear, for pre-collection, main collection, runway collection, as well as for organising showroom presentations, liaising with stylists and more. From 2015 to 2021, she worked as Woman Senior Designer for the Danish brand DAY Birger et Mikkelsen. Since 2022, Manuela offers her consulting perspective and experience as freelance fashion designer and creative director.