Abaete

Abaete embodies the spirit of its designer and founder, Laura Poretzky; it captures French femininity, Brazilian sensuality, and American simplicity.  Abaete (pronounced ah-BYE-ah-tay) is Laura's family name and translates roughly to "person of virtue."  The logo is the original Portugese family crest, which was awarded to her great grandfather in the mid-1800's for his work as a leading abolitionist and service as the President of the Brazilian Senate.  

Laura began Abaete in 2004 with a well received Japanese-influence resort collection for 2005.  Several months later Abaete held its first fashion show for the Spring 2005 collection during the New York Fashion Week.  With the 2006 Spring Collection, Abaete, for the first time took part in IMG/Olympus New York Fashion Week in the tents at Bryant Park.  The collection, based on the movie, Black Orpheus, was immediately hailed a “stellar debut with a selection of richly colored, beautifully trimmed pieces,” by the New York Post. 

Since then Abaete has received much attention from both major national and international press.  Abaete was approached by Payless Shoe Source to create its first-ever designer shoe collection and as a result was an outstanding success.  You will now see celebrities such as Kirstin Dunst, Mandy Moore, Jessica Simpson, Christina Aguilera, Nicky Hilton, Misha Barton, Rhianna, Ashanti, Vanessa Minnillo, Kate Moss and Jessica Alba sporting pieces from the clothing collection.