Ready to activate holiday mode? Barcelona retailer Mango and L.A. label SimonMiller have your beachwear wardrobe covered with a whimsical under-the-sea themed SimonMiller x Mango capsule collection that merges Mango's Mediterranean spirit with SimonMiller's West Coast ethos. The 73-piece range's vibrant stripes, hand-drawn sun prints, beaded fishnet knits, and oversize raffia beach hats are perfect for summer.
Mango has done a string of successful collaborations with influencers including Leandra Medine, Sofía Sanchez de Betak, Pernille Teisbæk, and most recently Camille Charrière, but this is the first time the Spanish fashion powerhouse has teamed up with another brand. For Mango design director Justi Ruano, choosing SimonMiller for its designer collab maiden voyage was an easy decision. "We looked for designers that are aligned with the DNA of Mango, and SimonMiller has the same colourful look," Ruano says.
For her part, SimonMiller CEO and creative director Chelsea Hansford loves to spin a yarn-her technicolour Spring 2023 collection for her own line is about a candy village on SimonMiller Island-so she was thrilled that the Mango design team was game for a bit of playful storytelling. "SimonMiller operates with a kind of thematic or cinematic lens, so when I learned that they were receptive to infusing this summer collection with those things, for me it was like, 'Hell yeah,'" Hansford says.
As she built the SimonMiller x Mango mood board, Hansford looked offshore, envisioning a merworld beneath the ocean waves. "I kind of imagined this fisherwoman who lives in a mosaic house under the sea and catches these really exotic fish with this eclectic fishing net that had all these kind of cool beads and shells stuck in it," says Hansford, explaining the inspiration for the collection's hero pieces-fancifully embellished openwork knit dresses and raffia bags.
The capsule combines Mango's go-to natural Mediterranean fibres like linen and cotton with materials reminiscent of California surf culture, such as recycled neoprene and terrycloth. Hansford's fiancé, Darel Granoth, drew the cheery sun prints seen on caftans and matching sets, as well as the mermaid design on a cute graphic tee. And because even mermaids need SPF, Hansford designed fringed raffia maxi hats to shade them from any bright rays that penetrate the ocean's surface.
Other standout accessories include signature SimonMiller platform sandals (in raffia, carved, and quilted fabrications), sun-shaped jewellery, and rainbow-coloured statement sunnies.
"It's our version of the Mediterranean-a little quirky, a little weird," says Hansford.