I like clothes that carry a place with them, and Waimari does exactly that. Sisters Stephanie and María Catalina Martínez were both born in Barranquilla, where their family's clothing atelier became the starting point for a resortwear line. They split the work in a way that makes sense: Stephanie studied fashion marketing at Parsons and leads the business side, while María Catalina studied design at Marangoni, Parsons and FIT and leads the creative direction. You can read more in their About page.

The family workshop brings the label's history into the present, and the handwork gives the clothes a point of view beyond a generic beach uniform. The label makes three collections a year, to order, and a single garment can take up to ten days of artisan work. That context makes sense of the Caribbean references, the lace, the hand embroidery and the breezy shapes.

I reach for Waimari when I want warm-weather dressing with a story I can follow, from a slow afternoon by the sea to dinner after sunset.

Warm weather is where Waimari's dress vocabulary feels most natural to me, and the handwork keeps it from reading like a vacation uniform. The Positana Tunic Dress in chocolate is the longer line, the blue Amarelle Mini Dress goes shorter, and the blue Odette Maxi Dress runs the same palette down to the ankle. One suitcase could cover a lunch outside and a dinner by the water.

Picture her slipping a light layer over the Odette as the sun goes down, with accessories kept spare so the dress can lead. What I would skip is fussy jewelry, since the Caribbean lace and hand embroidery already give the outfit a focus.

I like Waimari tops as a way to take the handwork in a smaller dose. The cream Sirocco Top, the white Amatista Top and the white Holly Top sit inside the label's light resort palette, and the lace and embroidery keep a simple pairing from feeling plain. I would tuck one into a dark skirt for a city lunch, or wear it with relaxed shorts on a travel day.

Picture her in the Amatista Top with a cream wrap skirt for a long, hot afternoon, changing only her sandals before dinner. I would leave competing prints at home and let the texture do the work.

Separates make the most sense when the day is hot and the plans might change. The black Avril Skirt gives the pale resort palette a darker counterpoint, and the white Lirio Maxi Skirt and the cream Sirocco Wrap Skirt bring in longer and wrapped shapes. For shorter days, the cream Solenne Short and the white Izzy Short can sit under the handworked tops. I would start with one detailed piece and keep the other half of the outfit quiet.

In my travel daydream, the wrap skirt goes over a swimsuit for a beach walk, then with a blouse at dinner, and the Solenne Short handles a market stop and a long ride home. Check the length against your shoes before packing.

To me, Waimari makes resortwear feel like a conversation between place and technique. The Martinez sisters have carried Barranquilla family craft into dresses, lace tops and easy separates, and the artisan process gives the clothes a history beyond a holiday. The made to order rhythm and three collections a year push me toward a slower kind of choosing. I would reach for whatever feels right on a real warm day, a long dress for dinner or a skirt and top for an afternoon out, although I know the dress would win.