7 New Resort Brands To Know Now On NET-A-PORTER
Planning your vacation outfits? Be sure to add Cristiano Marcheli, Marrakshi Life, Donde Esteban, Themis Z, Kashura, Julietta and Marta Ferri to your packing list, says COLLEEN ROSS
Marta Ferri
Marta Ferri’s foray into fashion design was a happy accident. After finding herself with several special occasions to attend one summer and nothing to wear, her mother-in-law suggested she buy some fabric and make her own outfits. “As soon as I started going to weddings in my designs, everybody was asking me who made them, so after a while, I said, ‘If you want to come by, I will make one for you,’” recalls Ferri over the phone from her atelier in Milan.
Aside from being incredibly flattering and elegant, Ferri’s designs are truly set apart by the unique upholstery fabrics she uses. “I like the dimension of the design and the weight. The color combinations are [also] very unexpected,” she says. From abstract ikat patterns and ornate brocades to vibrant floral embroideries, each design reflects what Ferri finds most joyful rather than following a particular trend. “Since the fabric has lots of personality, I can concentrate on making something that is timeless,” she adds.
Ferri’s latest ready-to-wear collection, available exclusively at NET-A-PORTER, includes sophisticated, wear-forever dresses for day and evening events, statement vests and versatile coords. Consider your summer-event closet covered.
Julietta
Self-taught jewelry designer Juliana Liden’s journey began organically when she started making one-of-a-kind pieces for herself and her friends. “When I launched Julietta [three years ago], my vision was to take the essence of costume jewelry and translate it into pieces that felt modern, elevated and wearable for today,” she explains. “I’ve always been captivated by vintage [designs] that carry a sense of history, artistry and bold character.” Alongside travel, flea markets and museum archives, Liden often draws inspiration from the work of Christian Lacroix, Yves Saint Laurent and Elsa Schiaparelli, as well as her own family. “Recently, I came across a photo of a sofa my grandmother had in the 1950s, and the intricate carvings on the wood immediately sparked an idea for an earring design. That’s how I work – connecting the past with the present and always keeping an open eye for beauty in the unexpected.”
Experimenting with materials is an important part of her process. “I have an endless love affair with shells, but it’s crucial for me that I only use responsibly sourced shells. There’s something so magical about their organic forms. I also love working with resin – it allows for incredible flexibility in design, from bold sculptural pieces to delicate, intricate details. Recently, I’ve been experimenting with wood, which has opened up a new world of texture and depth in my work.” Next, each piece is crafted entirely by hand at the brand’s atelier in Brooklyn, which is led by a team of women of color. “As a Latina, I deeply believe in fostering opportunities for underrepresented communities,” says Liden. “I’ve had the privilege of working with some incredibly talented artisans and supporting these women – many of whom have unparalleled skill but limited access to the fashion industry – which feels both meaningful and necessary. There is so much beauty in craftsmanship, and being able to collaborate with a team that brings passion and expertise to every piece is truly an honor.”
Kashura
“I was born and raised in Germany, where my passion for design began at a young age; by the time I was 10, I had already set my sights on becoming a fashion designer,” explains Kashura founder Katharina Kaschura. “Motivated by a desire to explore the creative world more deeply, I moved to Milan to further my studies. Living in this vibrant and inspiring city allowed me to dive into various aspects of the industry, helping me to develop a distinctive creative voice and a refined aesthetic,” she adds. After working for a shoe brand for several years, Kaschura launched her namesake footwear and accessories label in 2017, which she describes as “uncomplicated, easy to wear and effortlessly stylish”.
It was during a trip to Goa that Kaschura fell in love with a crocheted shoe that would inspire her signature ballet flats. “I added my personal touch to it, creating a design that perfectly captured the spirit of the moment – carefree, vacation-like and relaxed. It was unpretentious yet modern, with a hint of individuality and informality.” Each design is handmade by a small family business in South India using a traditional crocheting technique, which takes an entire day to complete. What’s more, all the threads are dyed in an array of colors, from grape and cornflour blue to dragon-fruit pink and olive green, all playfully mixed and matched to create the perfect summer palette.
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 of 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 tranquility 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 Cristiano Marcheli piece, from the scalloped-collar sun dresses 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 having 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. “It’s a dying trade, and we were inspired to keep it alive by injecting new energy and a creative vision into the craft,” says 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 multicultural 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 – 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.”