After spending the past five years traveling between Ibiza, Berlin, London and Sydney, designer Joanna Pretyman is an expert when it comes to living out of a suitcase! Identifying the simple kaftan as her one trusty fashion item that was lightweight, with the ability to pack small (and defy excess luggage charges!) and was also highly versatile, easily making the transition from beach to bar and summer to winter, Joanna discovered there was a gap in the market for stylish, simple kaftans and thus Le Paradis Collection was born. We caught up with Joanna before the official Ibiza launch of the brand to get the lowdown.
White Ibiza presents One Night at The Giri Café, the exclusive launch of Le Paradis Collection on Wednesday July 6, 2011.
You spend the year traveling between cities – what is it about Ibiza that keeps you coming back every season? To me, Ibiza feels like home. I came here on holidays from Australia in 2004 and moved here in 2006. I loved the the pace of life, meeting eclectic people from all walks of life and having the freedom to do whatever you want, whenever you want, however you want… but I still love city life which is why I travel in the winters. I like the juxtaposition of the two lifestyles – and the luxury of having two summers every year!
Why did you choose to launch Le Paradis Collection in Ibiza – what is it about a kaftan that works here? They’re just the perfect piece to wear from the beach to a bar to a club and the epitome of glamour and classic beauty. Plus, in this hot sticky weather, you don’t want to have anything clinging to your body, a floaty piece like a kaftan in this climate is ideal – you get comfort combined with glamour! They also flatter every figure, hiding a multitude of sins if you wish, or (if you choose a sheer fabric of course) showing off your body without having to bare too much flesh.
There are a lot of kaftans in the beach boutiques and shops – what’s so special about Le Paradis Collection? You’re getting something unique that is handmade here in Ibiza rather than imported from Thailand or South East Asia by the thousands – it’s a fashion creation. Plus, my fabrics aren’t your typical bohemian or hippy-ish type material – they’re modern, much higher quality and with beautiful, desirable prints.
The kaftan hood is your ‘signature’ – what inspired this? It’s definitely one of the fashionable elements – hoods are in style everywhere at the moment (not just on kaftans!) and you see celebrities like Lady Gaga, Rachel Zoe and Kylie Minogue wearing them all the time.
What are the benefits of having a pop-up boutiques in your villa? To begin with, it’s fun! You don’t have to leave the villa pool, and can drink champagne while you shop… But then there’s also the benefit of one-to-one interaction with the designer, custom fittings and the fact we can chat about your specific requirements…
Speaking of specifics, you also do one-off commissions – what kind of requests do you get? All types of things, from finding fabrics in certain colour palettes, be it coral or neutral to sourcing specific designer print fabrics like Marimekko, vintage Missoni or vintage Japanese silks. I’ve also worked with existing fabrics my clients already own… if I can make it into a kaftan, I will!
Where do you source your fabrics? On my travels every year – Sydney, London and berlin… but never the ‘typical’ kaftan type fabrics from Indonesia or Thailand. Next year I’m also planning on visiting Turkey for some new sources of inspiration.
Do you also sell your kaftans in other countries, while you’re traveling? The beauty of Le Paradis Collection is I can actually sell to anyone in the world, at any time though my website, it’s really a very simple process… Obviously doing one-on-one consultations requires me to be in the country (and you’ll know from my current city from my Facebook page status!) but of course there’s always skype if I can’t be there right away!
What is your own style like – do you wear kaftans 24/7? Well… no – does anyone? I wear a lot of flowy things like kaftans, long skirts and capes… but to be honest, I don’t have one particular style. I buy a lot of statement pieces – whether it’s cool pants, shorts or jackets – and team with basics and jewellery. I wouldn’t want to be pigeonholed!
Get our go-to-guide to Ibiza's coolest events delivered straight to your inbox!
