Issue link: https://www.balharbourdigital.com/i/575200
122 BAL HARBOUR "Everything is always on the casual side," he says, gesturing to a showroom filled with racks of washed khaki, baby cashmere and featherweight nylon taffeta. "For both men and women, I like fabrics that feel nice on the skin. This line is for people like me—people who travel a lot, people who don't need formal clothes. Of course, I have a suit if I really need it, but I don't wear them much anymore." Maier started his line with business partner Andrew Preston in 1997. They opened the first Tomas Maier shop in Miami Beach's Sunset Harbor neighborhood in 2006, the same year that Maier took the creative reigns at Bottega Veneta. He made sure that his own label was distinctly different in its casual style. Originally conceived as a year- round resort collection filled with beach staples like streamlined swimwear, shrugged on cover-ups and lightweight, casual separates, the line has expanded to include much more. Two years ago, Maier decided to "take it to another level" and partnered with François-Henri Pinault, the CEO of luxury conglomerate Kering (and his boss at Bottega Veneta). This partnership has allowed Maier and his team to develop an array of product categories, including accessories, outerwear, denim, jewelry and shoes. It also allowed him to open more stores, including a flagship boutique on New York's Madison Avenue and a satellite boutique on Bleecker Street. The Bal Harbour boutique is the brand's fifth store. A veteran of design studios at established European luxury brands like Sonia Rykiel, Revillon and Hermès, Maier has worked for some of the most exclusive labels in the business. But with the Tomas Maier brand, the key has been to create classic, European-style casual separates in the best fabrics and shapes, and all priced under $1,000. It's not as easy as it looks. Tomas Maier embodies the effortless elegance his brand is built upon. PORTRAIT BY DEAN KAUFMAN