The Colony Palm Beach presents the debut of a limited-edition swim and resort capsule collection created in partnership with celebrated Latin American fashion brand Agua by Agua Bendita and renowned hand-painted wallpaper house de Gournay. Launching with Moda Operandi as the exclusive online retail partner, the collection marks the first time the bespoke de Gournay mural found at The Colony has been translated into women’s swim and resort wear.
“We’ve wanted to extend our de Gournay mural into women’s swim for years, but we were very intentional about waiting for the right partner,” said Sarah Wetenhall, Owner and CEO of The Colony Palm Beach. “Agua by Agua Bendita is the first brand that truly understood the level of artistry required – from the precision of the color palette to the dimensional embroidery that mirrors the hand-painted detail of the wallpaper itself. Their commitment to craftsmanship made it possible to honor the integrity of the original artwork rather than simply decorate a swimsuit. Launching with Moda Operandi feels like a natural extension of this same mindset, allowing the collection to be introduced to a global audience that values this level of thoughtful design.”
The capsule draws directly from the iconic de Gournay wall coverings at The Colony Palm Beach – a playful yet reverent portrait of Palm Beach imagined as a living landscape. Inspired by a mural in the original lobby of The Colony titled The Early Days in Palm Beach, the hand-painted wallpaper celebrates the region’s native flora and fauna on soft pinks and teals, blending fantasy with a strong sense of place. Alligators float through lily-filled waters, panthers appear in diamond collars, flamingos preen beneath palms, and beloved monkey mascot Johnnie Brown makes his signature appearance from the treetops.
“The Colony mural was conceived as a narrative landscape, rich with detail and storytelling, so translating it beyond the walls requires great care,” said Hannah Cecil Gurney, Director of de Gournay. “Every element – from the scale of the flora and fauna to the softness of the Edo Xuan paper and the specificity of the color palette – was designed to evoke a sense of place and time. Seeing these hand-painted motifs thoughtfully adapted into fabric preserves the spirit of the original artwork while allowing it to live in a completely new medium.”
Agua by Agua Bendita brought the artwork to life across a curated selection of the brand’s signature silhouettes, including the Limón and Gema one-piece swimsuits, the Kiwi bikini top and matching Jengibre bottom, the Lavanda, Luna, and Emelina pareos, and the Delirio mini dress. The capsule features two distinct colorways drawn directly from the de Gournay murals found within the iconic spaces of The Colony Palm Beach. Select styles feature hand-finished embroidery, reflecting the shared commitment to craftsmanship that defines both Agua by Agua Bendita and de Gournay.
“We approached this collaboration with the same level of consideration we bring to all of our collections,” said Catalina Álvarez and Mariana Hinestroza, founders of Agua by Agua Bendita. “A key challenge was preserving the integrity of de Gournay’s hand-painted scenes – ensuring the scale and placement of each animal felt intentional and balanced on the body. Through embroidery, print placement, and color, we were able to maintain the depth and whimsy of the original artwork. From the stitching techniques to the choice of silhouettes, every detail is considered so the artwork moves with the body and feels just as joyful to wear as it is to look at.”
The collection is available now for a limited time at aguabyaguabendita.com, as well as in person and online at The Colony Edit and thecolonyedit.com, and will debut at modaoperandi.com.