The Brazilian-American designer channeled the leafy streets of São Paulo and the beaches of Rio de Janeiro during the annual celebration of Yemanja, goddess of the seas, in this imaginative collection that was also inspired by the movement of the body and modern dance. Texture and transparency were big themes, as was the interplay between nature and architecture. Among the standout looks were dresses and tops whipped together from pastel blue or pink patchwork silk organza and adorned with fluttery strips of tulle. The patches were meant to resemble windows and other structural elements, although the overall effect was ethereal — rather than hard-edged — and totally captivating.
Sheer, featherweight net dresses, meanwhile, were embroidered with mermaids, palm leaves, ballet dancers and even a building by the Brazilian modernist architect Oscar Niemeyer. Gray shorts glistened with holographic yarn and were overlaid with breezy net panels, while white trousers were layered under short skirts embroidered with crystals meant to resemble droplets of water. Scooter skirts were hand-embroidered on the front to mimic the rich grains of wood native to Brazil, while a similar print appeared on cotton coats. Lewis’ bottomless imagination and passion for handwork made for one powerful resort journey.
