It may seem like an unlikely starting point for a collection, but designer Jasmin Larian Hekmat’s new resort assortment for Cult Gaia all began with a moth. No, Hekmat was not drawn to replicating its unique biology or wings through her seasonal silhouettes; rather, she was more so drawn to the concept of what the insect represents, and how she could translate that into her signature getaway-ready clothes. “Unlike butterflies, a moth moves by moonlight and light,” says Hekmat. “And for me, the Cult Gaia woman is someone who has the strength and resilience to follow whatever illuminates her.”
The designer’s collections always possess a sense of the upbeat and joyful, so a vision of illumination was no hard concept to follow. For resort, Hekmat doubled down on her signature dresses, though she also ramped up her more casual, day-to-day separates. Dress-wise, there were tons of plissés—one style polka-dotted and cut out at the waist, another in deep emerald with a plunging neckline and high slit. There were more covered-up options, including plenty of lace and crochet gowns, too, in punchy red or minimal whites.
It was interesting to see Hekmat put her twist on everyday staples—infusing basics with that same sense of wanderlust. Her Micah top, for one, had a built-in wavy seams along the front that made a tank seem just a tad more groovy. Or her Tavia sweater imbued with cocoon-like sleeves, drawing right back to her moth inspiration. “You’ll see a lot of pleating techniques that mimic that—I just think nature is so magical,” says Hekmat.
Recently, Hekmat has also been focused on ramping up her menswear offering, and the Cult Gaia man had plenty to play with too. A billowy, PJ-like top and trousers set was finished in sunshine-hued stripes, while a textural black double-breasted suit was a dressier evening option. The men’s fills a big gap in the market—for dudes who need chic, easy vacation wear—and it would be smart for Hekmat to keep building it.
