The sun sets across Al Ula, its rolling sands still warm from a day under the sun. A cool breeze crests the dunes, scattering the grains upward towards a softened sky. It is here that Veronica Etro invites us through a landscape of luxury and adventure.
While Veronica’s designs certainly skew classic in cut and tailoring, a bohemianism lives within her pieces. In rainbow, paisley, and mimosa orange, her aesthetic playfulness adds levity to this colorful delivery.
Much like previous seasons where she dabbled in ballet-tie cowboy boots and leather-tassel ponchos, Veronica has also garnered inspiration from the American Southwest. Multicolor, geometric embroidery graces the back of this suede jacket, complementing the vintage-style fringe.
View the collection illustrations in progress, and see how the drawings transform into detailed and intricate scarf designs. Sabina creates a story for each collection, as shown below, which is then illustrated and narrated through her elaborate handiwork.
The Panchatantra (200 BCE – 300 CE) is an ancient Indian collection of interrelated animal fables in Sanskrit verse and prose. These stories are arranged within a ‘frame story’, meaning each individual tale contributes to a wider narrative. The Panchatantra is considered to have influenced later European books, such as Boccaccio and The Grimm Brothers.
The soft light of dawn seeps through the cracks of the palace walls, gilding the ornate white marble inside, while the dusky red exterior glows like a hot coal. Commissioned by Emperor Shah Jahan, The Red Fort is a monolithic structure brimming with extraordinary detail and extravagance. The palace is surrounded by impressive gardens and outbuildings, housing all manner of magnificent beasts. The animals are free to roam the grounds as they please, kept well-fed and thriving as a symbol of the Emperor’s power.
The golden sunrise has awakened the four young princes, and they creep from their beds to run and dance around the vast spaces and courtyards of the palace. As the day breaks, the overwhelming quietness echoes around them, and the children realise they are home alone. Overnight, the adults have been called to court and will be away for some time. In an effort to comfort themselves, the princes pull a large book from the shelf. Much loved and handled, the covers are tattered and worn. The large, bold lettering reads PANCHATANTRA, but the boys are still too young to read. They sit beside the pool in the Rang Mahal and turn the pages, trying to remember each story from memory.
Through the ornate archways, the creatures watch the little princes struggle with the tales. The animals have seen many children pass through this palace, and have heard each story recited a thousand times, through windows and doorways, in the gardens and by the lakes. The elephant takes pity on the small boys and summons the great pelicans from the river with his trunk. He swiftly and quietly relays his idea, and the pelicans fly away to gather the other beasts.
Within a few short minutes, the animals are assembled for the show to begin. The little princes sit mesmerised as the creatures perform the tales of the Panchatantra within the palace walls. Even the tiger has deigned to partake in the entertainment. The scenes are set, the stories are woven, and the little princes are enchanted.
In honor of International Women’s Month, over the next few weeks we will be highlighting the accomplishments and impacts of our own female designers in our editorials. However, in celebration of International Women’s Day today, we would like to share with you the stories of a few incredible, awe-inspiring, society-shifting women from around the globe.
Alice Coachman
The first black woman to win an Olympic gold medal, Alice Coachman was originally banned from many athletic facilities because of her race. In order to follow her dreams of running professionally, she made her own courses and obstacles to practice on.
A champion of Native American rights, Suzan Shown Harjo is an poet, writer and activist who has advocated for the rightful return of indigenous artifacts from museums back to their communities and helped Native peoples recover more than one million acres of tribal land.
Also known as “Africa’s Iron Lady”, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is the first democratically-elected female president in Africa. In 2011, was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize for her lifelong work in empowering women’s causes.
Spending much of her life advocating for women’s rights, labor rights and civil rights for African Americans alongside Angela Davis and Malcom X, Grace Lee Boggs was an influential Chinese-American activist who chased justice for the downtrodden in America.
One of the earliest female leaders in Egypt, Huda Sha’arawi, was the first woman in her native country to remove her veil in public – a defiant act that became a symbolic event in the mid 1890’s. She dared to host women’s groups in her home and in 1923 she founded the Egyptian Feminist Union.
A Japanese Mountaineer, Junko Tabei was the first woman to climb to the top of Mount Everest. Tabei went on to found an all-women climbing club, write several books on mountaineering, advocate for environmental preservation and climb the Seven Summits, the highest peaks on all seven continents.
A volunteer with the Red Cross and a member of the Belgian Resistance, Andrée de Jongh assisted in saving 700 lives and personally escorting 118 escaped soldiers to safety during World War II. She survived a concentration camp and after the war, continued her bravery by volunteering in leper hospitals throughout Africa.
Avant Toi is the cutting edge of luxury knitwear. Forward thinking, innovative and out of the ordinary, Avant Toi revolutionized the idea of what cashmere knitwear can be: distressed, urban, avant-garde while still maintaining elegance and a sophisticated essence. Superior quality Italian cashmere knits are created with artisan craftsmanship and then defaced, stained and maltreated to create Avant Toi’s signature juxtaposition of a grungy take on luxe.
Bokja was founded by the female duo Huda Baroudi and Maria Hibri in 2000. Their shared passion for furniture, textiles and design is the driving force behind their work. By marrying their expertise and knowledge of traditional craftsmanship, they have built a space that fosters creativity in all avenues – from clothing to home goods.
Mieko Mintz for fall is steeped in the deep jewel tones of autumn and winter. She uses flower patterns to mimic falling leaves and root patterns emblematic of cooler weather. Instead of stitching with vintage sari fabrics, she has instead devised and designed her own fabrics for this delivery. This additional layer of personal touch to her traditional Kantha has allowed for a delightful play of pattern, color and texture that is just so centrally Mieko.
Marco Zanini has made a name for himself working at a number of other labels. He honed his skills while working at Halston, Rochas, Santoni and Schiaparelli. He launched his label in 2019, and is based in Milan. Zanini was trained at Milan’s Accademia di Belle Arti and has a penchant for detail and an artisanal touch.
Casual styling and soft, approachable fabrics define Rundholz’s Black Label, first presented in 2006. The clothing from Black Label uses everyday fabrics like stretch cotton and linen to render softer versions of the Mainline silhouettes while also streamlining the avant-garde Rundholz style. Emphasis is on exceptional cotton shirting, sweatshirt materials made into fashion forward pieces and tunics as outerwear. Despite the dark palette, all fabrics are light and transitional. This variety of easy-going and relaxed looks make the collection accessible to all styles.
Francesca Rinaldo and Alessandro Gallo created Golden Goose in 2000, merging their creative spirits as true Venetian designers. In the years since then, they have crafted shoes that are full of artisanal spirit. A true synthesis of girlish styles encrusted with glitter, and shoes that steer toward a lived-in sense of vintage, Golden Goose has footwear that is sure to remain fascinating for seasons to come.
This machine knit collection is made at Barry Knitwear with yarn made by Todd and Duncan using the industry’s best cashmere in the most sophisticated color palettes. Using specially twisted yarn from exclusive Italian and Scottish cashmere mills, the resulting knitwear is plush and supple.
Boboutic’s mission rejects the quotidian notion of knitwear. Founded in 2000 by designer Michel Bergamo and architect/photographer Cristina Zamagni, the collections are conceptually driven by the complexities found in everyday experiences such as the visual impact of rock mosses and lichens, or the texture of paper.
Boboutic’s designers consider knitwear an ideal medium, since its versatility allows for unique surfaces and unexpected shapes. Their constant research for new materials and production methods positions Boboutic on the forefront of reconceptualizing knitwear as a platform for sartorial innovation.
New pieces from Avant Toi are now available online and in-store at Santa Fe Dry Goods and Workshop! This collection features various knits and coats in wine red, ocra orange, moss green and ocean blue.
Avant Toi is the cutting edge of luxury knitwear. Forward thinking, innovative and out of the ordinary, Avant Toi revolutionized the idea of what cashmere knitwear can be: distressed, urban, avant-garde while still maintaining elegance and a sophisticated essence. Superior quality Italian cashmere knits are created with artisan craftsmanship and then defaced, stained and maltreated to create Avant Toi’s signature juxtaposition of a grungy take on luxe.
Zanini has been introduced to Santa Fe Dry Goods and is now available in-store!
Marco Zanini has made a name for himself working at a number of other labels. He honed his skills while working at Halston, Rochas, Santoni and Schiaparelli. He launched his label in 2019, and is based in Milan. Zanini was trained at Milan’s Accademia di Belle Arti and has a penchant for detail and an artisanal touch.
New pieces from Uma Wang are available online and in-store at Workshop!
Uma Wang masterfully drapes silhouettes that have refined ease and simplicity, allowing the unique textiles to shine as the focal point. Her work balances femininity and lightness with a strong avant-garde undertone. Textural, romantic, experimental and contemporary, Uma Wang is a designer to watch for years to come.
Denise Betesh, originally from Brooklyn, moved to Santa Fe in 1989 and began to design and produce her signature jewelry collection that features matte 22K recycled gold, conflict-free diamonds, cascading sapphires, and bold garnets. Working from her Santa Fe studio, mused by the high desert landscape, Denise takes painstaking measures to create amazingly intricate and detailed pieces that are all truly one of a kind. Classical yet modern, her pieces are subtle, intricate, and elegant.
Mieko Mintz synthesizes rich textile traditions with modern aesthetics. In the case of Mieko’s jackets, the Kantha stitching is done by women in a small cooperative in West Bengal who take up to five months to create each piece. Each jacket Mieko designs is a true original with its reversible composition of beautiful prints.
New arrivals from Ümit Ünal are now available online and in-store at Workshop!
Umit Unal explores big concepts while remaining rooted in a casual style that is still intellectual. Natural fabrics are dyed in his signature monochromatic “non-color” palette, while handmade details abound—such as the hand stitching around the pockets and lapels and the mindful crumpling that is masterfully created for texture.
Embracing an updated artisanal country feel, Daniela Gregis features textured, voluminous silhouettes that allow a body to paint, work and play. Her dyeing is made using natural colors with shades that are taken from the most evocative natural landscapes creating an intellectual and soulful look.
The second delivery of Péro has arrived and is now available online and in-store at Santa Fe Dry Goods!
Traditional Indian textiles and handmade artistry are combined with contemporary international fashion in Aneeth Arora’s line, Péro. Since its launch in 2009, Péro has produced feminine and whimsical designs with a distinctive Indian perspective. A trendsetter in the creation of timeless, intricate and uniquely beautiful pieces, Péro is about the connection with people, radiating a sense that we all have a unique history while simultaneously existing in a multicultural world.
In their Fall 2021 collection, A Tentative Atelier invites us to consider what it means to live purely. Archetypal browns and creams connect with an enchantingly earthy aesthetic through the use of 19th century motifs. This collection is emblematic of beauty in simplicity – drawn in A Tentative Atelier’s signature romance.
Karen Melfi specializes in creating jewelry with polished, cubed and faceted diamonds in naturally colored earth tones. Each ring is meticulously created with gold details to create dynamic and distinct jewelry that bridges the gap between day and night, casual and formal, with ease and great style.
Made with extraordinary Italian craftsmanship that creates both quality and style, every collection is produced in limited edition, crafted using only vegetable tanned leather and completed with custom casted hardware. The iconic look of Massimo Palomba is their beautifully textured woven leather. The process of weaving the body of the bag can take up to 35 hours and can only be completed by craftsmen with exceptional artisanal abilities. Each of their collections has an earthy, natural feel in their quixotic perfection.
The second delivery from Rundholz Black Label has arrived and is available in-store at Workshop! It will be available online soon.
Carsten and Lenka Rundholz return to basics in their first delivery of Rundholz Black Label for fall. Classic point collar and tunic silhouettes meet buckling and stitched accents for a collection simultaneously daring and simple.
