Miami Swim Week Cruise 2011: Aqua Di Lara & Qiss Qiss at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim
Montreal-based Aqua Di Lara returned to the runway on July 17 at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim to present its Cruise 2011 collection and to debut its secondary collection, Qiss Qiss. U.S. Creative Director Reyhan Sofraci used the runway as a playing field for creativity. Femininity, power and confidence were the key concepts for the Aqua Di Lara collection, which was designed with a luxurious warrior goddess in mind.
Sofraci fused innovative design techniques and fabrications with a futuristic appeal. Colorful jewel tones came in shiny technical water-repellant fabrics, draping techniques were incorporated into necklines and liquid-metal fabrics featured hardware accents.
For the Qiss Qiss collection, Sofraci focused on femininity—but with a flirtatious girly look designed for a younger customer. The line, which launched in Canada a few years ago, has a more playful side. “[Qiss Qiss] has done well, so we wanted to introduce it to the U.S. market,” Sofraci said. The collection ranged from coquettish lingerie-inspired suits in pastel colors and lace trims to brightly colored bikinis with ethnic embellishments and graphic giraffe prints.—N. Jayne Seward
