As we edge towards another winter of shorter days and cooler temps, Tara Whalley’s latest collection delivers a jolly ray of sunshine. Dropping island vibes and summer holiday comfort into your wardrobe, the Tienda Rosy range features Tara’s gouache paintings of her travels through Guatemala. Her year-long sojourn involved working with war-affected Mayan weavers and designing woven accessories and homewares, before she returned to Central America again last year to paint local plants, animals and spaces.

The Melbourne textile and fashion designer’s resulting collection is as fresh as it gets: think crisp white-and-blue unisex tees screen-printed by hand, bright-green fruit print kimonos and loose-fitting dresses cloaked in Guatemalan jaguars and exotic gardens. Designed and made in Melbourne, and available in sizes 8–18, Tara’s pieces typically begin with a painting. Tuning in to inspiration and transforming her experiences into wearable art, Tara then plays with colour to create new hues, focuses on shapes that are both flattering and comfortable, and works with local suppliers and manufacturers to bring it all together. Shop the Tienda Rosy collection online.

Our Melbourne friends will also have the opportunity to drop in to SHOP GAL, an in-store residency curated by Tara and featuring some of the country’s most celebrated independent jewellery, fashion and ceramic designers. Check out the unveiling of her new Curious Cat! print, among other designs, from next Tuesday April 9 to Sunday May 5.