4 New Resort Brands To Know Now On NET-A-PORTER
Planning your vacation outfits? Be sure to add CRISTIANO MARCHELI, MARRAKSHI LIFE, DONDE ESTEBAN and THEMIS Z to your packing list, says COLLEEN ROSS
Cristiano Marcheli
When Maria Chelioti launched her brand four years ago, she named it after her late father, Cristiano. “He has always been a source of strength and inspiration for me. He had an innate appreciation for beauty and elegance, and through him, I learned to trust my instincts, embrace my creativity, and stay true to myself,” the designer explains.
Chelioti has created a brand that feels like an authentic reflection of her life and the places closest to her heart. “My designs are inspired by the dynamic energy of Milan, where I studied and lived, and the serene beauty of the Mediterranean, where my roots lie,” she says. “Milan’s vibrant streets and diverse culture introduced me to bold contrasts and movement, while the Greek landscape gave me a deep appreciation for natural harmony, warmth, and light.”
Describing each of her collections as a personal chapter, Chelioti feels a deep connection to every piece she creates, particularly the prints, which she describes as capturing both the excitement of city life and the tranquillity of the sea. “They are my memories, my inspirations, and my emotions woven into fabric,” she says of the vintage-feel deckchair stripes, gingham checks and hand-drawn botanicals that decorate her sophisticated resort-ready designs.
Chelioti values timeless elegance and is committed to mindful practices. Every Christiano Marcheli piece, from the scalloped-collar sundresses to the breezy kaftans, is skillfully crafted by artisans using the finest responsibly sourced materials and is designed to transcend trends, so you can wear them for countless summers to come. “Sustainability is at the heart of everything I create. I am deeply committed to minimizing my environmental footprint while maintaining the highest standards of craftsmanship,” says Chelioti, who is involved in every step of the design process.
Marrakshi Life
Marrakshi Life’s weaving atelier in the heart of Marrakech is a hive of activity. If you were to step inside, you’d be greeted by walls of hand-dyed yarns in every color, fabric installations draped floor-to-ceiling and the rhythmic sound of textile looms in action. Founders Randall Bachner and Nicholas Minucciani describe the space as a family atmosphere where they gather with their team to create and inspire.
For the couple, who are married and moved from the United States to Morocco, preserving the textiles and craftsmanship unique to the city is of the utmost importance. “A dying trade, we were inspired to keep it alive by injecting new energy and a creative vision into the craft,” say the pair, who now have 70 local artisans specializing in dyeing, weaving and tailoring working in their atelier. Nurturing the people at the heart of Marrakshi Life is part of the brand’s holistic approach and feeds into its commitment to responsible craftsmanship, which includes a strict zero-waste policy and a made-to-order service. “We have built a space that feels safe for everyone to be themselves, celebrate their talents and diversity, and provide housing for our weavers and their families,” say Bachner and Minucciani.
The brand’s collections always start with color, which the couple describes as an instinctive selection process inspired by what surrounds them. “We study colors and how they interact with one another to create new palettes and compositions.” From there, everything else starts to take shape. Dresses, kaftans and shirts are designed using the brand’s hand-loomed textiles in sublime, billowing silhouettes, which offer the kind of unrestricted freedom that is perfect for both balmy vacations and summers in the city.
Donde Esteban
At Donde Esteban, life is an endless summer vacation. The resortwear brand founded by Esteban Cortazar reflects the designer’s multi-cultural lifestyle (he was born in Colombia but grew up in Miami and now splits his time between Paris and Ibiza), not to mention his unrelenting joie de vivre. “Donde Esteban is a love letter to the places that feel like home to me – places where the energy, warmth and creativity are palpable,” Cortazar explains. “It’s a feeling as much as it is a piece of clothing – it’s that moment of complete ease and joy that summer brings.”
For Cortazar, who established his original namesake brand in 2002 before launching Donde Esteban last year, his work is an opportunity to celebrate his roots and the strength of family ties. The eye-catching prints in every collection are designed either by his father, Valentino Cortazar, or by other artists within his community. “[My father’s] paintings have always spoken to me on a personal level, and I knew I wanted to incorporate that into my work,” says Cortazar. “The prints we choose are deeply personal – landscapes that tell a story, that capture the magic of places that mean something to us.”
Expect easy vacation separates – from loose-fitting bowling shirts and slinky slip dresses to pareos and matching bikinis – in breezy fabrics and joyous colors that will come to carry many summer memories. “Color is a huge part of how I express myself,” says Cortazar. “I think about how a print or shade will make someone feel – whether it’s the warmth of a sunset orange or the depth of a Mediterranean blue, it’s all about evoking emotion.”
Themis Z
Themis Zouganeli has always had an eye for style, a trait she credits to Greek heritage as well as to her parents, who worked in the entertainment and fashion industries and had a passion for the arts. Born and raised in Athens with idyllic childhood summers spent in Mykonos, Zouganeli is passionate about sharing Greece’s rich cultural history – from the ancient architecture and time-honored crafting traditions to the vibrant Mediterranean landscape – with the world through the lens of her brand, Themis Z, in a way that feels most authentic to her.
“My interpretation of Greek style is all about beautiful patterns, colors and materials,” says the designer. The unique prints in every collection are hand-drawn by Zouganeli and inspired by a particular mood, memory or place, from the flowing ripples of the Aegean Sea to the Art Deco staircases found in most Athenian neoclassical buildings.
Zouganeli is keen to ensure every one of her designs is relaxed yet sophisticated enough to be easily incorporated into everyday life, whether for dinner in the city or sundowners on vacation. “I adore timeless pieces that offer both elegance and practicality,” she says. “From the NET-A-PORTER edit, I gravitate towards pieces that reflect that blend of relaxed glamour, like the effortlessly chic silk ‘Lydia’ dress that can transition from day to night and adds sophistication to any outfit.”
A sense of ease and comfort can be felt across the ready-to-wear collection, which is locally made in Greece using high-quality fabrics and with impeccable attention to detail. “For me, luxury isn’t about excess; it’s about quality, longevity, and respect for the environment.”