“…Resolve the previously contradictory conditions of dream and reality” – Andre Breton on Aim of Surrealism

Drawing from the spirit of dance, movement and surrealism, Omaskas designs exemplify a personal truth that the ocean has long been a foundational source of creative inspiration for my collections and storytelling. Coastal living and my connectedness to the sea have brought me to a far deeper understanding of the critical importance of preserving and protecting our oceans. Beyond it’s beauty, the ocean is fundamental to life on this planet, as among other things, it is responsible for providing at least half the oxygen we breathe, and much of the food we consume. This has resulted in many “dead zones” in oceans around the world where pollution has created large areas that simply cannot support marine life.

The fashion & textiles industry is one of the largest culprits in polluting our oceans in a variety of ways…from the massive quantities of pesticides used to grow cotton, to the chemicals from textile dyeing that are discharged into our waterways, to the microfibers that pollute the marine environment every time we wash clothes made from synthetic materials, like nylon and the spandex from our yoga outfits.

I’m ever conscious of the broader societal and environmental responsibilities that we all shoulder as human beings, and in particular, those that are unique to being a resort wear designer. Omaskas has always focused on sustainable approaches (dyeing with reduced water waste, use of organic silks and natural materials, working with groups that explore ways to reduce water and chemical use in the process) and we are striving toward ultimately achieving a goal of 100% sustainability. Each of us needs to see how we can individually champion the healthful preservation of our world so that we, and all those who come after us, can continue to enjoy and celebrate the people, experiences, lands and the oceans that so enrich our lives.

K A L I T H A & S A H R A

The Kalitha Dress and Sahra Dress were both carefully constructed in ethereal, hand-printed silk, and adorned with delicate petal-like ruffles designed to evoke the textures of the sea and beach, echoing the forms of time-weathered rock formations, abandoned seashells, and webs of seaweed strands strewn across the surrounding sands.

“No ocean, no life. No blue, no green. No ocean, no us.”
~ Dr. Sylvia Earle

Photographed by Melissa Isabel and filmed by Frankie Lerox on Rockaway Beach in NY, we captured Alena Renay wearing Omaskas – a homecoming for it’s true spirit, a restorative beauty, and a true endless summer. Raising a different set of questions in us, which is the beginning of impactful change.

#FORTHEOCEANS

/2020/08/31/for-the-oceans/