Archipelago

The deeply coded and powerfully graphic ikat designs of the South East Asian archipelago have made their way around the globe over the centuries. Originally produced through traditional resistance dying of yarns the authentic versions transmitted meaning, power and social currency. Take the women weavers of Sumba, Indonesia, to them textiles are viewed as material representations of the female element of the bipartite (male-female) universe and their depictions of animals imbued the wearer with traits of the animal.

In our centre pieces of this resort collection we have borrowed the ikat’s form, restrained it, lowered the contrast, pushing the printed design backwards to a moodier and stormier self with the colour respectfully nodding to the inky indigos of the real deal.

The Pollok series featuring a pocketed shirt, a knee length skirt and cropped top are made from pure silks, and can be worn as an ensemble, separated or worn with swimwear. The print reappears in a versatile cotton sarong and neckerchiefs, two P Johnson resort staples. Tie off your sarong with the amorphously hewn sarong slider - made in Italy from ethically sourced horn.

The Italian woven crepon silk-cotton Clara top and matching skirt return this time in a deep oceanic stormy blue. Relating to the Pollok in colour, the pieces can be worked against one another. A beautiful fresh and versatile set that, like all the pieces here will carry from day to night fluidly.

The Athena pieces carry the same organic materiality but focus on an Italian blended linen fabric with large lateral slub-like inclusions. There is a shifty mini dress and a straight short. In a warm chalky white these are perfectly versatile resort pieces. A perfect partner to the short is the Maggie top - made in a crisp white silk-cotton poplin, the top is decorated with intriguing bridge stitches over the shoulders, requiring a specific machine just to create this effect.

The new Jeanne knit is a pure and simple boat neck cotton knit that will cover a lot of ground in the travel wardrobe. It is made from very fine and very long staple cotton twist creating a smooth and strong yarn and comes in a dusty blue and off white.