Our Tour of PatBO's Tropical, Elevated SoHo Flagship

What led to your start in the world of fashion, and when did you decide was fashion design something you wanted to pursue professionally? 

I grew up in a beautiful town in the countryside of Brazil called Uberlândia, where I opened Patricia Bonaldi, a namesake multi-brand store. My clients started requesting custom-made gowns, which quickly turned into an eveningwear collection. That cemented my future as a designer. Over the years, my collections evolved, and in 2001, PatBO was born. Fast-forward to today, and my brand can be found in over 200 stores globally, including the recently opened flagship store in Soho, NY.

Your first brand store was in your hometown of Uberlândia. Could you speak to the influence Brazil and South America has on your designs and vision? 

Yes! The first store was in my hometown, which is a rural town in Minas Gerais. My Brazilian heritage inspires each PatBO collection which can be seen with our signature tropical prints and bold designs.

Tell us more about your journey to create PatBO as a brand and what the impact did the move to New York City have?

At its core, PatBO celebrates the art of craftsmanship. The embroidery for which the brand is known is unique to my hometown, and as the brand grew, it was important for me to preserve this art. I began teaching to local artisans and soon after founded a school. Today this school employs hundreds of men and women who imbue each collection with their talent and passion for hand-embroidery and bold print design.

The move to NYC signified the launch of our international business. In 2011, I hired an expert sales and marketing team to grow the business beyond Brazil and tell the brand story to a broader audience. It was a natural decision to have our flagship store be where our expansion began and have the local team's full support almost five years later. It is a dream come true to welcome clients into a space in the US where they can experience the world of PatBO in person for the first time.

What was the inspiration for the NYC flagship? And do you have a shared vision for all of the PatBO spaces?

The store is designed to become a true destination where customers can feel first-hand the Brazilian heritage on which the brand was founded. Tropical foliage can be seen throughout the two-level store as samba music plays. Custom wallpaper featuring an original hand-drawn print exudes tropicalism and covers the walls of a seating area and coffee bar. These same elements can also be seen in my stores in Brazil. It is important that when my customers walk into PatBO, they feel the brand cohesively, no matter if they are in Sao Paulo or at 65 Greene St.