Specializing in conscious luxury, sustainable resortwear brand Verandah has landed in Palm Beach.
Knifepleat plisse satin top and skirt.
Known for her bohemian separates and bold prints, Anjali Patel Mehta, founder and creative director of Verandah, dishes on the brand’s debut at Fivestory Palm Beach.
A former investment banker and active mother of two, Patel Mehta founded the resortwear brand out of the need to find luxurious, boho-chic travel separates. Her mission today is to create a joyful Indian luxury label inspired by the sights, smells and contours of her land and her international travels.
Recycled georgette tiered maxi dress
Perfect for Palm Beach, tell us why Verandah is the ultimate vacation brand. Palm Beach is happy, colorful and tropical. It has everything I love: the beach, beautiful homes and happy people. I’m from Mumbai, and I started Verandah on a journey to find soft, chic and comfortable resort separates that suited our tropical climate. After I left my banking career, I found I could embrace color again and not be shy of my love to dress like I felt on vacation every single day.
Designer Anjali Patel Mehta in the Ecovera halter maxi gown
You have an interesting background and started your career on Wall Street. Tell us a little about your story and what inspired you to start the brand. I’ve always loved prints and I’ve always happily embraced relaxed, off-duty dressing in the city, even through New York summers. I’m a kaftan girl. After a decade on Wall Street, I took a break from banking to repair my health after a serious spinal injury. Verandah was born from a need to find joy and comfort in everyday dressing. I started making clothes and selling them to my friends. The brand took off after I went to Miami Swim Week and Taj Hotels placed a big order; so did Neiman Marcus and Moda Operandi.
Social responsibility and sustainability are qualities that are in the DNA of Verandah. Why is that important to you? As an Indian designer, I feel personally responsible to employ ethically and give our artisans strong employment and the opportunity to g row. All our cotton is fair trade. We are also proudly zero waste and have up-cycled all our fabric waste into new repurposed clothing and accessories.
What makes the latest collection special? My summer collection is my most personal so far. It’s called AWAS, named aft er the small, sleepy fishing village in the township of Alibag, where we spent lockdown during the pandemic. The handillustrated prints and patterns are inspired by the plants and trees by our beach house, the shells I collected on the beach and quiet sunsets and treks in nature. This collection pays homage to slowing down in life.
Knife-pleat plisse blouse
Where are some of your favorite places to hang out when you’re in Palm Beach? Dinner at Le Bilboquet. Poolside at The Colony. Shopping at Fivestory, Joey Wölffer and Coastal Girls.
What’s next on the horizon for Verandah? We have a home collection we are working on that I am very excited to launch.
Photography by: PHOTO COURTESY OF VERANDAH
