Fashion
Soneva partners with sustainable Indian fashion brand Rahul Mishra
Soneva has announced a partnership with sustainable Indian fashion brand Rahul Mishra.
During the partnership, that will run from January to December, Rahul Mishra will develop a new collection inspired by Rahul’s stay and personal experiences at Soneva Fushi: The Soneva Collection by Rahul Mishra. The new collection will be launched at the Indian Couture Week 2020, in the last week of July.
“One often needs to step away from home to look at it from a different lens. The privilege of travel enables the genesis of fresh perspectives and fuels us to look deeper within ourselves.
On a recent trip to Soneva Fushi, Maldives, as I submerged myself quite literally, into an unfamiliar world, a series of stark realisations dawned upon me. Mesmerised by the million shades of blue, the ever-changing abstract shapes made up of a diaspora of fish, the alienesque underwater foliage and the striking corals, it was a mammoth task to register the beauty unfolding before me — an experience that was equal parts surreal and humbling.
The endless sky and the vast blue of the ocean staring right back at you, lends a clear sense of scale to the conscience. I have explored the notions of a habitat enveloped in memories, the subtleties of nostalgia guiding my past collections. But the current reality of it all is daunting to say the least.
My four-year-old daughter, Aarna, longs for a clear blue sky as pollution levels in New Delhi, the capital of India, are alarmingly high. We are confronted by the very outcomes of our own actions. There is no beauty in what is transpiring around us today, but the vivid imagery of the planet, virginal and untamed, serves a keen sense of optimism and paints a neat portrait of every ounce of life we are losing with each passing second. I recall watching Madagascar, the animated movie for the umpteenth time with my daughter. She is amazed by the plants and the animals that formulate the ecosystem of a massive jungle, and so am I. We travelled to the foothills of the Himalayas and were in the pristine presence of wilderness.
These distinct experiences shaped my approach to clothes this season, as we mark our debut in the haute couture calendar.
Entire ecosystems have been crafted out of delicately hand embroidered flora and fauna. We have pushed to discover new frontiers in our exploration of three-dimensional embroidery that lends a distinct shape shifting essence to the silhouette. With pieces that have taken more than five thousand human hours to make, the collection marks a big leap for us as we establish our codes.
The last seasons have witnessed a growth of 50 per cent in business with a drop of 10 per cent in production numbers. We are reducing the quantity of clothes we produce whilst growing as a business that employs more than a thousand artisans from the Indian craft community. The slowness enables us to incorporate a natural human pace to the process of creation, the biggest luxury of the moment.
A foray into couture is a conscious decision lead by an intention of catering to a demand for our fashion in replacement of having to create the demand. Articulated with the love for all people involved and value for environment at large, great strength is found in the process.”
– Rahul Mishra, on the inspiration for The Soneva Collection.
Rahul made his debut in 2006 at Lakme Fashion Week with a collection using cotton handloom textiles from Kerala. In 2009, he made reversible dresses, using Kerala mundu on one side, with Banarasi fabric woven by traditional craftsmen on the other side.
Since then, he has showcased his work at fashion weeks in London, Dubai and Australia, and is regular on the official calendar of Paris Fashion Week. He is known for incorporating traditional Indian textiles, and handmade artisanship to his work.
In 2013, he won the Indian segment of the International Woolmark Prize, going on to represent India and the Middle East at the 2014 International Woolmark Prize Competition in Milan, which he went on to win.
Rahul’s award-winning capsule range, The Lotus Effect, incorporated hexagon shapes and lotus motifs. The collection used Chanderi fabric woven with Merino wool with woollen embroidery by craftsmen in Kolkata. The collection was influenced by the monochromatic work of Dutch graphic artist Maurits Cornelis Escher.
The award has been previously won by designers Karl Lagerfield, Giorgio Armani and Yves Saint Laurent.
With two flagship stores in India, Rahul’s thriving national and international distribution channel is based on the idea of sustainability, and that fashion is a tool to create participation and empower the craft community.
Rahul’s purpose defines the process. The slow process of hand-weaving and hand embroidery allows them to build sustainable livelihoods for more than 1,000 artisans. They work in close association with the Ministry of Textiles in an attempt to sustain the storied heritage of Indian crafts. They are a design house that works on the philosophy of the three Es — Environment, Employment and Empowerment; looking at luxury from the lens of participation, not just consumption.
In 1995, the award-winning luxury resort Soneva Fushi set the standard for all desert island barefoot luxury hideaways in the Maldives. Located in the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Soneva Fushi pairs the Robinson Crusoe fantasy with intelligent luxury.
Stay in one of the 63 private villas, ranging in size from one to nine bedrooms. Each comes with their own stretch of beach, most have their own pools, and are hidden amongst dense foliage within touching distance of a pristine coral reef.
As of May, Soneva Fushi will have eight new Water Retreats, bringing the total number of villas to 71. These one- and two-bedroom overwater villas all have their own pool, retractable roofs and water slide into the ocean below.
Intuitive service is provided by Mr./Ms. Friday butlers.
Soneva in Aqua is a luxury two-cabin yacht that sets sail from Soneva Fushi, it can be chartered for bespoke diving and snorkelling excursions.
Highlights include the open-air Cinema Paradiso, exploring the cosmos at the high-tech Observatory, the home-made chocolate and ice cream rooms, five hundred wines to choose from, nine different restaurants both on the island itself and at Out of the Blue, the two-storey overwater structure, and countless destination dining options. Explore the treasure trove that is the children’s Den, that comes with a Lego room, dress up room, two pools, a water slide and more. There is a multi-purpose facility that encompasses the Maldives’ only hot glass studio, the glass gallery, and boutique where guests can learn the art of glassblowing.
If the experiences are magical, the philosophy is simple: No news, no shoes. No pretensions either.
Fashion
KAYALI showcases Maldives as luxury brand destination with first global trip
Global fragrance brand KAYALI, founded by beauty entrepreneur Mona Kattan, selected Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa as the destination for its first-ever global brand trip, bringing together international content creators, influencers and media representatives for an experience combining fragrance, wellness and Maldivian island hospitality.
Held in September 2026, the event, titled KAYALI Island Spraycation, marked a milestone in the brand’s international engagement strategy. The programme featured two exclusive trips designed for its influencer and media communities, providing participants with opportunities to experience the brand’s fragrances alongside the resort’s accommodation, wellness facilities and marine excursions.

The Maldives was selected because of Kattan’s personal connection with the destination, which she has frequently described as one of her favourite places. Her experiences in the country have also influenced KAYALI’s fragrance development, including its Vacay in a Bottle collection, which draws inspiration from travel and destinations.

Located in North Malé Atoll, Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa provided the setting for several brand activations, with villas, wellness experiences and guest activities incorporating KAYALI’s fragrances and visual identity.

Upon arrival, participants were welcomed with personalised amenities, fragrance collections and branded gifts. Guest accommodation featured KAYALI products, robes and sleep accessories, while the resort’s hospitality team collaborated on themed turndown experiences and personalised arrangements.

One of the programme’s highlights was a wellness experience at ŪRJĀ Naturopathy Island, the resort’s dedicated wellness sanctuary. Inspired by KAYALI’s Yum Lip & Body Collection, the House of Yum: Layer With Love experience introduced participants to body care and fragrance layering through treatments and product demonstrations.

The itinerary also included the KAYALI Scent Lab, an interactive session exploring fragrance ingredients, formulation and the Middle Eastern tradition of combining different scents.
Kara Davis, the brand’s Vice President of Global Marketing, and Robert Nasser Sabet, Director of Global Sales and Education, guided participants through the development of KAYALI fragrances and the techniques used to combine different scent profiles.

Participants were introduced to fragrances from the brand’s portfolio, including Vanilla | 28, Vanilla Candy Rock Sugar | 42 and Yum Boujee Marshmallow | 81. They also received an exclusive preview of an unreleased KAYALI fragrance ahead of its planned October 2026 launch.

Beyond the fragrance sessions, the programme incorporated resort dining, themed entertainment and ocean experiences. A KAYALI movie night, inspired by the brand’s Boujee Kitty Caramel Milk fragrance, brought participants together for an evening of entertainment and personalised hospitality.

Guests also joined a dolphin-watching excursion aboard the Perfume Princess yacht, providing an opportunity to experience the marine environment surrounding the resort. The programme concluded with a farewell dinner that brought together participants from different international markets.

The trip followed previous KAYALI destination-based activations, including a visit to Cappadocia, Türkiye, associated with the launch of its Freedom fragrance collection in late 2025. However, the Maldives event represented the brand’s first global trip bringing together its international creator and media communities.

Founded in 2018, KAYALI has developed an international following through its fragrance collections and emphasis on scent layering. The Maldives trip formed part of its efforts to engage content creators and media through experiences that extend beyond traditional product launches.

For Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa, the collaboration demonstrated the property’s capacity to accommodate international luxury brand events requiring customised accommodation, wellness programmes, dining and recreational activities.

The event also highlighted the Maldives’ potential as a destination for global beauty, fashion and lifestyle brand activations, where international brands can combine product storytelling with resort hospitality and destination experiences.

Fashion
Aquazzura collaborates with JOALI Maldives to launch Maldives’ first-ever limited-edition capsule collection
Italian luxury fashion brand Aquazzura has partnered with JOALI Maldives, located on the Muravandhoo island in northern Maldives, to launch a special limited-edition tropical capsule collection. Inspired by the lush, art-immersive island, together the brands collaborated on a beautiful sandal and matching clutch. The capsule collection is available in the island’s boutique, Maison de JOALI.
Crafted in Italy, Aquazzura’s first Maldives collaboration was inspired by the brand’s founder and creative director Edgardo Osorio’s love of the sun, sea and passion for diving. The collection consists of a sandal slide and matching clutch in white leather, with a refined beaded embroidered motif depicting pristine blue water and cerulean sky with coconut palms. Fresh and casual but refined and bold, those wearing the items will be transported on an exotic journey. JOALI clutch features the spectacular arrival jetty at JOALI Maldives, inspired by the ocean’s ebb and flow to set the tone for an enchanting stay in the Maldives.

The turquoise colour of the sea surrounding JOALI ties to the inspiration behind Aquazzura, ‘Aqua’ blue, and the philosophy of sharing infinite joy with the world has created a remarkable synergy, reflected in this one-of-a-kind capsule collection. Praising the partnership, Edgardo Osorio, the founder and creative director of Aquazzura, complements, “I began diving in the Maldives a few years ago and was immediately captivated by the vibrant nature and stunning colours of its coral reefs. During a recent visit to JOALI Maldives, I was enchanted by the resort’s beautiful architecture, exceptional service, and wellness rituals. As a devoted admirer of the sun and the sea, I collaborated with JOALI Maldives to create something special, culminating in the exclusive launch of the first Aquazzura pop-up collection in the Maldives.”
Discover Aquazzura Casa collection at JOALI Maldives for a limited time only from 20th December 2024. The Secret Garden line showcases an enchanting tableware selection of botanical elements in lush, verdant tones inspired by 18th-century Chinese porcelain. Combined with a carefully crafted menu by Michelin-starred Chef Theodor Falser, guests will be able to enjoy a perfect evening at the resort’s restaurant Bellinis with authentic Italian flavours.
JOALI Maldives has villas from $2,928 per night based on two persons sharing a Water Villa with Pool on B&B basis. For further details and booking, please visit joali.com.
Fashion
Patina Maldives and Stampd debut their second collaborative collection
Patina Maldives, Fari Islands, and Stampd have announced their second collaborative capsule collection, emerging from a shared passion for mindful design and fresh perspectives. This partnership deepens the creative dialogue initiated during their 2023 collaboration, seamlessly blending the tranquil pace of island life with the monochrome and minimalistic style that is characteristic of Chris Stamp, the founder and creative director of Stampd.
The collection targets modern travellers who seek purposeful and meaningful experiences by offering an aesthetic that is effortlessly refined. It combines surf-ready comfort with metropolitan sophistication, appealing to conscious consumers and ocean enthusiasts alike.
Reflecting Patina Maldives and Stampd’s commitment to environmental stewardship, the pieces are crafted from consciously selected materials, including organic cotton, recycled ocean-bound plastics, and locally sourced natural fibres. This collaborative passion project features a t-shirt for both men and women, a unisex white linen shirt, swim shorts for both genders, a trucker cap, and a tote, with each piece embodying the collaborative spirit of both brands.
Anthony Gill, the General Manager of Patina Maldives, stated, “At Patina Maldives, we believe in the transformative power of fresh mindsets. This collaboration with Stampd captures our ethos of deep connections—whether between nature and design or among like-minded individuals who share our passion for experiences that leave a lasting impression. Each piece tells a story of discovery and connection, inviting guests to embrace new perspectives while respecting our commitment to the environment and community, striking the perfect balance between purpose and style.”
The seeds of this collaboration were planted during Chris Stamp’s immersive journey to Patina Maldives in late 2022. Through his Polaroid camera, Stamp captured the interplay of light, water, and architecture that defines the resort’s distinctive character. These moments of curiosity evolved into a collection that honours both the serene rhythm of island life and the dynamic pulse of coastal cities through urban-ready fashion.
Chris Stamp remarked, “Growing up in Southern California and now calling Miami home, I’ve always lived at the intersection of ocean and city. This collection celebrates the art of discovery, bringing together individuals who share a passion for thoughtful design and sustainability in luxury. Each piece carries our stamp and the Patina spirit, inspiring wearers to embrace fresh perspectives whether they’re exploring urban landscapes or finding serenity by the ocean.”
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