Tomas Maier in Miami Beach | Designs that Shine
Shopping for something special? We’re exploring the side streets of South Beach this month to bring you a wee bit closer to the hidden treasures the city has to offer. Today’s discovery is popular with those in-the-know fashionistas who need unusual treats to gift their most discerning friends. Enter the world of Tomas Maier…
If you’re not addicted to upscale fashion mags like we are, you may not have heard about Maier - the creative director for the elite, 40 year old Italian fashion house Bottega Veneta. The brand’s perennially iconic leather goods are created by dedicated craftsmen who painstakingly weave thin strips of leather into “intrecciato,” a lattice-work pattern stitched into purses, belts and shoes. In 2004, Maier opened his jewel box South Beach shop to showcase a multi-faceted selection of accessories, clothing and home accents that evolved from the brand and the hyper-attuned aesthetic of it’s director.
While fans might assume the shop features only Bottega products, the gamut of the collection encompasses aninternational assemblage of items Maier finds personally appealing. From the humble Minnetonka Moccasin to the esoteric whims of Comme des Garçons the inventory moves forward as Maier travels the globe. Shunning faux-status logos, this is a shop for people who have the quiet confidence to invest in design, not bling. Miami girls with nothing to hide covet the store’s minimalist swimwear that looks like one-off creations and provides maximum exposure. Images of the spectacularly revealing bathing suits featured in the most important international fashion publications can be viewed online.
If you want to experience the world of Tomas Maier, look for the art-filled 1930’s style bungalow on West Avenue at 18th Street. Inside you’ll find what can best be described as a window on the world this elegant gentleman inhabits. The shop celebrates his personal collection of the beautiful and the desirable including hand-crafted jewelry, art books, CDs, ceramics and even flea market finds.
For the intrepid shopper, the dedicated fashion hound or the student of popular culture, a side trip to Tomas Maier is a must-see retail moment in Miami…
Tomas Maier
1800 West Avenue
Miami Beach
305-531-8383
(Closed Sundays)
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