Abaete

Abaet embodies the spirit of its designer and founder, Laura Poretzky: it captures French femininity, Brazilian sensuality, and American simplicity. Abaet (pronounced ah-BYE-ah-tay) is Laura's family name, and translates roughly to "person of virtue." The logo is the original Portuguese family crest, which was awarded to her great-great grandfather in the mid-1800's for his service as the President of the Brazilian Senate, and his work as a leading abolitionist. All Abaet garments are made in Manhattan, which guarantees the highest quality fit and craftsmanship.

Laura Poretzky was born in France to a Russian father and a Danish-Brazilian mother, and raised between Paris, Rio de Janeiro and New York. With a lifelong interest in the arts, she was accepted into the top-ranked Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) to study photography, but switched to fashion design when she found herself spending more time with the fabrics she was shooting than in the darkroom. Upon graduation, Laura was hired to a coveted position at Ralph Lauren, where she further refined her design sensibilities.

Having spent much of her life on the beaches of Brazil, sketching local styles, Laura left Ralph Lauren to create her own line of sexy, wearable Brazilian-inspired swim- and resort-wear called Abaet. Within months, the company won widespread recognition. From Hollywood to the Hamptons, Abaet suits were in top fashion magazines, and on celebrities and fashionistas everywhere.

Laura has now extended her range to create a complete line of ready-to-wear -- drawing as much on her experience as a New Yorker as on her Latina and Eurasian roots. Her sophisticated, feminine designs have captured the imagination of stylists and editors alike, while her years of experience with fabric and construction ensure a perfect fit, every time.