LOTUS LOVERS

BY MARCY MEDINA

Australian resortwear brand CAMILLA deepens its relationship with the hit HBO Original series “The White Lotus” via a global collaboration that landed in South Coast Plaza’s CAMILLA boutique just in time for Season 3.

April 7, 2025

Australian fashion designer Camilla Franks, who founded her brand CAMILLA in Bondi Beach in 2004, has earned a global following for her colorful, travel-inspired prints and stylish resort silhouettes. She also won new fans when her designs appeared on Jennifer Coolidge in Season 1 of the HBO Original series “The White Lotus.” CAMILLA deepened its ties with the critically acclaimed show in Season 2, culminating with a collaboration, The White Lotus x CAMILLA Collection, which debuted in CAMILLA stores in sync with Season 3 of the show.

Franks tapped Lezio Lopes, the Sydney-based illustrator who worked with creative studio Plains of Yonder on the striking opening credits for each season, to create three original prints for the collection. The first, dubbed “Welcome To The White Lotus” is inspired by Season 1’s Hawaii setting. The second, “Venus On A Vespa,” is a nod to the Italian architecture and colors of Season 2. “Ready For My Welcome Drink” is a dark exotic print that echoes the flora of Thailand, the setting for Season 3. We caught up with the globe-trotting Franks to learn more about her relationship with her “White Lotus family.”

Key art for Season 3 of The White Lotus.

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SOUTH COAST PLAZA

INTERVIEW: CAMILLA X THE WHITE LOTUS

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CAMILLA has a long and intricate relationship with “The White Lotus” franchise, spanning all three seasons thus far. Can you explain how it came about and what that’s entailed each season?

“Our story with ‘The White Lotus’ truly began in the most beautifully organic way. While planning for the show’s premiere season, ‘The White Lotus’ costume team stumbled upon our store at South Coast Plaza and instantly fell in love with our unique prints, globe-trotting designs and intricately embellished silhouettes. I’ve always believed that fashion has its own energy, and when they walked into the store, it felt like fate.

Key art for Season 1 of “The White Lotus” featuring Jennifer Coolidge in a CAMILLA kimono-style duster.

When I met with HBO the creative alchemy was immediate, the ideas were endless….and I just knew it was the beginning of something magical. The team’s vision was spot on, and seeing our designs come to life on Jennifer Coolidge as Tanya McQuoid? Pure fashion magic.

For both Seasons 1 and 2, the costume team thoughtfully selected pieces that complemented the unique quirks of the characters and setting of the show at large. The vision was brilliant; they truly understood how our designs would bring a sense of drama, glamour, and intrigue to the characters. The team felt CAMILLA was the perfect fit for Tanya in Season 1. Then for Season 2, we dressed the Libertines and lady-killers in our menswear range HOTEL FRANKS BY CAMILLA.

For Season 3, we wanted to really shift and take a completely different approach, so in true CAMILLA style, we went big! This time, instead of dressing the cast, we’re dressing the fabulous fans all around the world with a collection in partnership with HBO and Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products that is inspired by the locations and ‘The White Lotus’ brand.”

Jennifer Coolidge wears a CAMILLA caftan in “The White Lotus” Season 1.

**When you started watching the show, what did you love most about it, in addition to seeing your designs on Emmy, Critics’ Choice and Golden Globe award-winner Jennifer Coolidge?**

“As a designer, it’s a huge milestone when you have cast members from a global award-winning show dressed in your clothes. It’s a real ‘pinch me’ moment. Beyond that, there are so many things to love about ‘The White Lotus.’

I adore the way fashion is used to reflect each characters’ inner world—it’s not just about the clothes, but about how they express their personalities and emotions. Each character is a world unto themselves. This whole idea really resonates with me, because for each and every collection we create, we completely immerse ourselves into a new world and bring it to life through the magic of print.

Our collaboration was no different. The limited-edition prints that we created are just as complex, intriguing and enigmatic as the characters and storylines of ‘The White Lotus.’ I love the way the show inspires viewers to push their own aesthetic further, to take risks and color the world. I really wanted to bring that sense of freedom and fun to life with this collection.”

Actor Bruno Gouery, who plays Didier, wears a shirt and shorts by HOTEL FRANKS, CAMILLA’s menswear range.

Jennifer Coolidge wears a CAMILLA kimono-style duster in “The White Lotus” Season 1.

Camilla Franks with actor Bruno Gouery on the set of “The White Lotus” Season 2 in Italy, where she had a cameo. Gouery wears a shirt by HOTEL FRANKS, CAMILLA’s menswear range.

What was it like filming your Season 2 cameo in Italy?

“The way my cameo in the series came about was surreal. After working very closely with the team to dress some of the characters, I was in Italy on an inspiration trip for my next collection when suddenly the phone rang…with an invitation to come on-set and be part of a fabulous party scene, which ‘The White Lotus’ team was filming in Sicily.

Being on set was like hanging out with old friends. We share the same pulse–storytelling is the beating heart of all my collections, and my favorite stories come from travel. To be part of such an iconic show, something I’ve truly been a fan of since the very beginning, with some of the CAMILLA team by my side, was one of those moments you know will stay with you forever.”

A model wears a swimsuit and cover-up in the *Welcome To The White Lotus* print.

Is this your first collaborative collection with a film or television property? What is your design process like for these types of collections? Are there different nuances from designing regular collections?

“As an artist, it’s always great to stretch yourself beyond what you know. To challenge yourself in new ways. Collaborations give me a chance to do that, to think about different ways of communicating, interpreting and creating. Any change in the creative process or vision helps me to grow and morph into a new way of being. It’s a chance to be a part of something bigger than yourself…to step into a magical new world and become a part of a moment in time.

Disruptive collaborations have become a big part of our brand DNA, and what really influences the designs is finding that perfect, delicious fusion between two brands. That’s where the magic lies.

There’s always power in collaboration. I’ve been lucky enough to partner on collaborations with Disney, ‘Snow White’ and the generation-defining film ‘Wicked.’ ‘The White Lotus’ has been our first TV series, and it’s been a wild ride combining our signature prints with the drama of the show.

We plunged into the aesthetics of each season: the animals, the colorful characters, the costumes, the florals, the art… even down to the music and the cocktails on set! Our in-house artisans worked with our ‘The White Lotus’ family and Lezio Lopes, the artist behind The White Lotus opening credits, to create three new prints that reimagine the three worlds of The White Lotus – Hawaii, Italy and Thailand. What we’ve created together is a fabulous fashion lovechild of luxury, self-discovery and travel.”

A model wears a caftan-style dress in the *Ready For My Welcome Drink* print.

CAMILLA designer Camilla Franks wears an ensemble in the *Venus On A Vespa* print.

Model and fitness influencer Alexis Ren wears a dress in the *Welcome To The White Lotus* print.

What has been your customers’ reaction so far to the collection?

The response we got globally from being featured in first two seasons blew my mind. The White Lotus x CAMILLA collection has been no different. The impact goes far beyond sales; it introduced a global audience to CAMILLA and to resort dressing. I’m lucky enough to have committed fans, who I am so grateful for. And I think when you combine that with a series that has a cult following like ‘The White Lotus,’ it’s a very unique, secret sauce recipe for success.”