The Atacama, stretching nearly 1000 miles along the Pacific coast of Chile, is the oldest desert in the world.
Throughout its terrain, stony plateaus meet sweeping dunes and sharp canyons for a sight unlike any other on earth.
In the heart of this arid landscape sits San Pedro, a tiny township established in the 14th century.
It is within this storied location that we find the motifs of Lauren Manoogian’s resort collection in their most elemental form.
Walking through the streets of San Pedro, one is greeted with the delight of history, accented by sunbleached adobe and weathered wood architecture.
In the same way thatched roofs contrast against pebbled stone walls, so does Lauren derive a play of texture between the nubby plys of her baby alpaca and ultra-soft merino wool yarns.
Desert butterflies and vizcacha, a South American rodent similar to a chinchilla, dart the Atacama landscape, ducking in and out of candelabra cacti.
Delicate purple blooms have sprung from this hardy flora with the recent rain – one of the accent colors found throughout Lauren’s collection.
Layered together with knits in cream, taupe and rich chocolate brown, the addition of a dusky violet underscores the earthiness of this delivery.
At their core, Lauren Manoogian’s pieces reflect a very human desire for the elemental.
They combine feel, function and form in a way that is both accessible and deeply primal – a foundational dressing that dates back to the dawn of time.
Not only do they feel good against the skin, but they reflect a history of textile knowledge and appreciation rooted in nature.
