Belusso: The Marriage of Art and Fashion
Los Angeles designer Kirsten Ehrig-Sarkisian’s new swimwear brand, Belusso, was born from a love of art, fashion and all things French—the French Riviera, that is.
Sarkisian’s new collection, due for deliveries this fall, features colors that could only be found in areas such as the “Blue Grotto” on the isle of Capri in the Mediterranean. “The light there is phenomenal,” the designer said.
Rich turquoise, teal, cocoa and sand white are among the colors featured in the new collection, which is wholesale priced from $79 to $150. The suits are made from nylon and Lycra, offering enough stretch for lounging about or jumping the suits into action. The tops come in bandeau looks, and triangle-cut bottoms come in side-tie and full styles. Coverups are also available, wholesale priced from $80 to $125, and are made from silk voile, silk, cotton and baby jersey.
Turquoise, carnelian, coral medallions and stones ornament many of the suits. It’s a touch that comes from a designer who has a unique perspective on swimwear.
A former “Project Runway” contestant, Ehrig-Sarkisian’s route to the design profession didn’t come through traditional paths. She studied law in school, earning a juris doctorate from the University of California, Hastings College of Law. But her appreciation for the legal profession eventually gave way to design, first with art and then fashion, after she studied in Paris. She later returned to France to work in an art gallery that featured expressionist art. In France, she made trips to the coast and developed a strong affinity for the Cocirc;te d’Azur, which is now well reflected in the line. Back in California, she threw all these passions together to create Belusso last year.
“I always see the purchase of a Belusso bikini or swimsuit more like a purchase of a handbag or great pair of shoes,” she said. “The embellishment makes it a collector’s item. It’s about style. My typical customer collects swimwear just as she does other items in her expansive closet.”
For more information, call (323) 459-9918. —R.M.
