Beneath the Surface: (002: "La Mar")

“La Mar” reflects on the beauty and strength of the divine feminine and its connection to nature, using the ocean as its expressive medium.

This collection features beachwear-inspired cuts, materials like pearls and stones, and feminine silhouettes, symbolizing feminine empowerment and visually representing natural elements.

Two main books inspired this collection: “The Old Man and the Sea” by Ernest Hemingway and “When God Was a Woman” by Merlin Stone.

A significant quote from Hemingway led the way:

“He always thought of the sea as la mar which is what people call her in Spanish when they love her. Sometimes those who love her say bad things of her but they are always said as though she were a woman. Some of the younger fishermen, those who used buoys as floats for their lines and had motorboats, bought when the shark livers had brought much money, spoke of her as el mar which is masculine. They spoke of her as a contestant or a place or even an enemy. But the old man always thought of her as feminine and as something that gave or withheld great favors, and if she did wild or wicked things it was because she could not help them.”

This quote prompted me to question the power of women and how it has been oppressed over the years–which sparked a curiosity on women's background regarding to power. As it usually goes, I bumped into Merlin Stone’s book without looking for it and realized it would be the perfect research tool for this collection.

After reading Stone’s book, I acknowledged the power and significance women have had throughout history– guiding me to design something that portrays this power and reconnects us to it.

The ocean has always been a significant part of my life, so it felt natural to see it as "La Mar," a goddess and a muse. For me, it is a divine force that inspires and guides me, fueling my creativity and connecting me to something greater, also connecting me to the beauty of my feminine energy.

The development of this capsule has been very special for me, since it led me to reconnect to a different side of my design process which I hadn't tapped into.