Out in Montauk, the 4th of July holiday weekend meant a lot was going on. That was especially true at Surf Lodge, where Studio 189 designers Abrima Erwiah and Rosario Dawson took over the hotspot hotel and concert venue to celebrate their latest project: a collection with Bloomingdale’s label Aqua. Also on the agenda for the weekend? Concerts from Bob Moses, Amémé, and The Chainsmokers.
The Aqua x Studio 189 collection, which launched on July 1 and is playfully named Akua, marries the accessibility of Aqua, which is sold in every Bloomingdale’s storefront, and the empowering artisanship of Studio 189. Indeed, Erwiah and Dawson changed little about their textile production practices for the project, continuing to support their community of craftswomen in Ghana. “The special hand-batiked prints that were created exclusively for this collaboration resulted in Studio 189’s largest single fabric order to date, which grants us the opportunity to present the craftsmanship of our artisans to a broader audience. It’s an accessible collection that embraces joy with vibrant and tropical designs fitting for the summer season,” explained Erwiah.
Longtime friends (they met as kids growing up in Manhattan), Erwiah and Dawson shacked up at Surf Lodge for the weekend, and their colorful wares—flouncy tiered skirts with a hand-dyed frond pattern; striking separates in a hand-blocked black-and-white motif—filled the hotel shop’s shelves. The staff, too, represented the new collection, sporting tees from the line.
And then there was Surf Lodge’s special programming. Saturday saw DJ twosome Bob Moses take over the turntables with their melodic tunes, while on Sunday night, the Benin-born artist Amémé kicked off what would feel like a celebration of all things West African. A Studio 189 dinner, serving up jollof rice to Erwiah and Dawson’s guests, immediately followed, set in the sand and welcoming the likes of Bloomingdale’s CEO Tony Spring and Surf Lodge doyenne Jayma Cardoso. (Elsewhere at Surf Lodge, Trevor Noah and Diplo could be spotted.)
Surf Lodge was more than just a venue, as Dawson told the dinner attendees, explaining why she and Erwiah chose it for their very important launch. Surf Lodge was one of the early supporters of Studio 189; “Back then, we hung our clothes on a rack in the sand,” the actor remembered. Later in the evening, guests were presented with Bloomingdale’s “Medium Beach Bag” totes stocked with Studio 189 pieces, including a graphic terry cloth towel. It proved delightfully useful, as many would spend the next morning on the beach before attending a raging concert by The Chainsmokers where there was lots of Jaja tequila going around. Cheers to the weekend!
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