Miami has such a great mix of people that have moved here from all over the world, and I feel there is so much acceptance and appreciation in individual styles because of this. People come to enjoy and have fun and that really shows through the way they dress. I have to admit, I never wore a single print before moving to Miami, and definitely did not dress as colorful when I lived in Buenos Aires.
The most underrated I would say is Shenzhen. If you think of China, exquisite hand made one-of-a kind designs is not the first thing that comes to mind. I was completely thrown at how amazing the underground fashion designers are there. Their work is out of this world and I had no idea until I actually went to meet a few young brands in person. The most overrated would be any place that is super touristy and commercial, where it’s really hard to find anyone that actually lives and works there year-round. So many markets all have the same things. One that is maybe a little over rated is the weekly street market of Rio de Janeiro...but even there I found a jewelry designer that does these strange handmade pressed metal bracelets with fire opals pushed inside that was so amazing I had to keep them for myself.
I would say a pendant I was gifted by my grandmother that I always saw her wearing as I grew up. It’s a little clown with arms and legs that can move. I love it because it’s so simple and complex at the same time, and also because I have never come across anything similar again. It also reminds me of my family and gives me a feeling of home when I wear it.
Most if not all of the pieces we carry are hand finished, made in small quantities and have a person behind that is dreaming them up and bringing their vision to life. They are out there to express themselves and connect with others through their work. Each designer has their own stance on sustainability and it’s great to see how each one approaches it. I learn from that every day. In general, I steer away from brands that are mass produced of course, but also, we pay a lot of attention to the materials used. We carry mostly collections made in natural fibers, or recycled synthetics for swim which are great.
There are so many ways to go about retail, other than having your own store which is an immense commitment. The baby steps start out with having a good product that you believe in, and then really finding the perfect space for that where you become visible to the community you are trying to reach.
My perfect day at the standard is hanging out with friends by the pool on a weekend. We love to take out the paddle boards and go for a ride with our dogs in the bay.
