Paolita : Symbolic motifs
Inspired by the geometric patterns from the Archaic period in Ancient Greece, the designer Anna Paola visited the Metropolitan Museum in Manhattan and studied the vast collection of Ancient Greek pottery and originally created a linear version of this print. She then started experimenting with this by reflecting and rotating it and the results were this extraordinary kaleidoscopic surreal effect. Due to the surreal nature of the print, it was named the Absinthe collection. Each bikini is a herb used as an ingredient in the drink. The one piece is aptly named ‘Green Fairy’, which was the literary term for the bohemian drink.
Absinthe
Named after notorious female warriors and pirates, the Chariots collection celebrates powerful women. The Chariots print is inspired by the geometric patterns from the Archaic period of Ancient Greece. Anna Paola gave the print an Art Deco feel and undertone which is reflected throughout the 2016 season.
Chariots
The Homeric Hymn to Apollo acknowledges that Apollo’s gift of prophecy first came to him from three bee nymphs (Thriae) of Mount Parnassus in Phocis, named Daphnis, Kleodora and Melaina. Apollo is a light, playful and surreal print collection that plays upon classical Hellenistic period motifs, mixed into an Art Deco feel and given modern, vibrant colours. Apollo was also the God of light and music.
Apollo
Born in the United States, to a Greek father and a Mexican-American mother, and raised in Greece, Paolita designs capture the designer’s cross-cultural upbringing under the sun of the Aegean islands and the coasts of Mexico. The curiosity of Anna Paola Papakonstantinou about different cultures which is evident in her designs, started as a child during her travels with her parents. She was mesmerized by the fascinating colors and crafts she ‘discovered’ during these trips. Whether it was wrapping herself in exquisite silks in India, admiring the Masai beaded jewelry in Africa or visiting the Mexican markets with their vibrant colors, these experiences have been a source of inspiration that has influenced her work.
Paolita designs involve extensive research in libraries and museums, combining creativity with an informed perspective on design, coloring, and ergonomics. This particular approach reflects not only Anna Paola’s training at Instituto Marangoni in Milan and London, but also an attention to detail that she learned while working with Alexander McQueen and Hussein Chalayan.
