Denise Gerassi and Martins Launch an Exclusive Collaboration for SPFW N61
The collaboration between handbag brand Denise Gerassi and designer Tom Martins presents Kôia, a maxi shopper that brings together Martins’ pop, maximalist aesthetic and Denise Gerassi’s artisanal expertise through seven variations in materials, textures and finishes.
Brazilian brand Martins, led by designer Tom Martins, and Denise Gerassi present an exclusive collaboration during São Paulo Fashion Week N61. The partnership gives rise to Kôia, a maxi shopper that represents the meeting of two creative universes, connecting Martins’ pop and maximalist language with the craftsmanship and material research that characterize Denise Gerassi.
The collaboration grew from the connection between Tom Martins and Denise Gerassi, who met during a talk at Istituto Europeo di Design (IED-SP). From that first meeting, the affinity between their creative references opened space for a joint project centered on experimentation, original design and new dialogues between fashion and accessories.
Kôia materializes this meeting in a piece that explores contrasts and multiple possibilities for composition. The maxi shopper combines pirarucu leather with other animal hides, alternating materials and textures: on one side, pirarucu takes the lead; on the other, the bag features options in sheepskin, hair-on bovine leather or patchwork. The result highlights the complementarity between Martins’ expressive aesthetic and Denise Gerassi’s artisanal approach.
The name Kôia, associated with the meaning “twins” in Old Tupi, refers to the two sides of the bag, each revealing a different material composition within the same piece. The choice also connects with Denise Gerassi’s identity, which incorporates references to the Tupi language in the names of other styles in its collections. More than a formal feature, the concept reinforces the essence of the collaboration: two identities that preserve their individuality while creating a new expression together.
The partnership also represents a milestone for Martins. For the first time, an accessory signed by another brand becomes part of a complete look presented by Tom Martins on the SPFW runway. The initiative expands the role of accessories in the show’s narrative and brings Denise Gerassi’s work into the Martins universe in a new way, establishing a connection between the two brands that goes beyond the development of a single product.
The launch comes at a significant moment in Martins’ trajectory. In this edition of SPFW, the brand presents a collection honoring five designers who were fundamental to the construction of its creative identity. Since its digital debut at the event in November 2020, Martins has been consolidating its presence on the Brazilian fashion calendar, expanding its repertoire and exploring new possibilities of expression.
With seven variations in materials and finishes, Kôia arrives as a limited edition and will be available on Denise Gerassi’s official website after the presentation. More than a launch, the collaboration celebrates the meeting of two Brazilian brands and reaffirms the potential of creative encounters to explore new perspectives on design, craftsmanship and expression in fashion.
Content by Laura Cavalari
