Ulla Johnson collaborates with visual artist Cassi Namoda for Resort 2027, translating the colors and imagery of her paintings across silk dresses, jacquards and textured separates. Born in Mozambique and raised across several continents, Namoda draws from personal memory and historical narratives. Her surreal scenes of daily life examine the complexities of post-colonial identity through intimate figures, interiors and natural forms.
RESORT 2027
Johnson selected four of Namoda’s paintings as the collection’s primary visual references, including “Arafah Gaza’s Appearance,” “An Ode to a Tropics Rose” and “Florist of Nostalgia Playground.” Their vivid tones guide the season’s palette, while Namoda’s floral imagery appears across large-scale prints and woven surfaces.
Brightly colored silk twill dresses carry enlarged versions of the artist’s floral compositions. Johnson also uses the paintings to inform rich Italian jacquards, including a sleeveless top paired with a full skirt. More delicate floral prints appear on chiffon dresses and separates, creating a lighter expression of the collaboration. Three-dimensional rosette embroidery adds texture to an evening top styled with jeans.
Printed dresses remain a central part of the collection, while knitwear offers another major focus. Johnson continues her established hand-crocheted dresses in short and long lengths, then explores more decorative constructions through a spangled three-piece set composed of a cardigan, miniskirt and cropped tank. Black-and-white dresses use varied amounts of fringe to create texture and motion. Their graphic palette keeps the focus on construction, while the fringe changes the outline of each piece as the wearer moves.
Five-pocket jeans arrive in a curved, barrel-like shape with brass hardware applied directly to the waistband, removing the need for a belt. Another denim look pairs jeans with a matching bomber jacket, both woven with a feathery motif. Johnson explains that repeated washing will make the motif increasingly visible.
Resort 2027 brings Namoda’s artistic language into Johnson’s established approach to print, knitwear and detailed construction. The collection moves from floral silk and chiffon to crochet, fringe and treated denim.
