BRAZIL is one of those countries that emits a strong visual essence: hot, even sweaty, sweltering with sensuality hot nights, over the top gorgeous creatures (hello, Giselle Bundchen) – when I think of it, I can practically sniff an essence of warm tropical tuberose. Designer Patricia Bonaldi hails from Sao Paolo – in her childhood, her mother could not afford to buy her clothes, so she taught Pat how to sew her own. One thing lead to another – including a bout in law school – but eventually she came back to her form-fitting dresses. By 2002, she founded PatBO – a brand carried in many stores across the world now – now shown
in regularly at New York Fashion Week. She combines sexy evening wear with chic bathing suits – who wouldn’t want to be mistaken for a Brazilian woman on the beach? – in a purely individual way. With her success came a desire to give back: Pat established a school in her Brazilian hometown of Uberlandia (great name) where craftsmanship is taught to local girls and women, so they can become skilled artisans.
