Cote d'Or Swimwear To Debut At Fashion Week Swim
"My inspiration comes from everyday life and travel, people, plants, books — anything, really,"
With a debut collection that launched at the start of this year, local swimwear designers Stephanie Theis Fajardo and Kevin Fitzpatrick of Cote d'Or Swimwear are poised for their coming out party in July at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim.
"I'm ecstatic," Fajardo says, "I'm also a little nervous because it's our biggest event to date. The preparation is a huge undertaking, selecting everything from music, models, hair and makeup to making sure the collection is ready and choosing the best pieces for the show."
The Miami-based designer's collection is built around six key digital prints influenced by Mayan and Aztec culture. Vibrant shades of green, blue, orange, and fuchsia, along with exotic animal prints and safari-inspired shades are the hallmarks of the collection. Fajardo's Colombian roots come to life with her contemporary interpretation on these ancient civilizations, along with the plants, animals, and vistas that surround them.
"My inspiration comes from everyday life and travel, people, plants, books — anything, really," Fajardo says.
The idea for Cote d'Or was actually dreamed up poolside at the W South Beach one afternoon. Fajardo, who has no formal training as a designer, made it her task to learn the ins and outs of the design and production process. Swimwear appealed to her in a quest for the perfect fit and for the challenge of creating something unique with a small amount of fabric.
"We all love a basic black triangle bikini," she says, "But there is so much more one can do with a bathing suit."
Cote d'Or Swimwear's 2013 collection will grace the runway at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim at the Raleigh Hotel on Monday July 23 at 8 pm as part of the IMG Group Show along with Aguaclara, Aquarella Swimwear, and Sauvage.
"With Cote d'Or, we are creating a collection that blends imagination with reality," says Fitzpatrick. "Fashion and style is about dressing for a feeling, not based on the trend of a given moment. Our goal is to design a collection that leaves a seasonless, lasting impression."
