MIAMI FASHION SWIM WEEK: POKO PANO
Poko Pano Brazilian Bikinis is a long-standing family-owned company that was established in Sao Paulo Brazil in 1990 by Paola Robba. The Brazilian designer showed off her new collection at Miami Fashion Week Swim, where she presented her 2010 Summer collection in the Raleigh Hotel’s Oasis venue.
This season, Robba was inspired by the Amazon. In particular, she singles out the caffeinated guarana plant, spicy peppers, and native Indians. She points to the collection’s colorful polka dots and stripe motifs as a symbol of the diversity of the rain forest and the Brazilian people. Tropical colors, as well as neutrals like black, white, and beige were incorporated to translate the region’s richness.
Not constraining herself to just using Lycra, Robba’s swimsuits feature leather metallics, printed acrylics, and fabrics that were dyed.
Robba has a knack for playing off of traditional shapes to create new looks without being so avant garde that someone with a traditional style would not want to wear the design. Of particular note, a cream one-piece look was shown, but the top was draped with the outer inch done in black, making it almost look like it was a bikini bottom paired with a loosely hanging top - especially since it was paired with a gold multi-chain necklace.
The Amazon theme came through loud and clear. A number of the looks - both bikinis and maillots - featured leaves and flowers that one would find in the Amazon rain forest. The polka dots and stripes were done in a number of ways to suit varying tastes and complement a range of skin tones.
