Year: 2022
Context: Independent project
Role: Founder & Designer
Scope: Identity, collection, sourcing, production, first sales

LeveLeve

A swimwear label Maria started on her own in 2022, named after the São Tomé expression for “take it easy”. She designed it, sourced the materials, produced a small run and sold the first pieces directly.

Realised · produced and sold in 2022

Challenge

Build a complete small label alone — identity, a first capsule, production and sales — and keep it calm and consistent from the wordmark to the finished piece.

Maria’s contribution

Name, handwritten wordmark and flower marks
A first capsule of six sets, each with its own technical sheet
Material sourcing and small-scale production
Creative direction for a short campaign film
First direct sales of the finished pieces

01Identity

A loose, handwritten wordmark and three small flowers. Black only, so the colour comes from the swimwear.

02Capsule collection

Six essential silhouettes in teal, black and lilac, designed for versatility and long-term wear.

Flat illustrations of three bikini sets: teal triangle, black bandeau and lilac halter

Flat illustrations of three bikini sets: black and grey triangle, lilac balconette and black asymmetric top

Technical sheet for the teal triangle set with construction notes — Technical sheets with construction notes, materials and colour for each set.

Technical sheet for the black bandeau set with construction notes — Technical sheets with construction notes, materials and colour for each set.

03Campaign film

A calm, observational film: natural movement, unposed gestures, texture and light.

Campaign film still: a woman lies on a poolside bench in a yellow bikini — Stills from the campaign film.

Campaign film still: close-up of a yellow bikini top and arm in the sun — Stills from the campaign film.

2025 · Retail concept — not realised

Three years later, Maria revisited Leve Leve as a service-design exercise. She developed the in-store experience as an immersive tropical oasis, where retail meets relaxation: swimwear, a coffee corner and interactive cultural displays. From the store layout and sensory atmosphere to each touchpoint, everything was designed for a seamless customer journey. Using service blueprints, journey mapping and stakeholder analysis, she explored how to turn a simple shopping trip into a memorable, engaging and stress-free experience. It is a concept only: no shop was opened and no further collections were produced.

Moodboard of pools, plants, textiles, cafés and packaging references — Moodboard and concept floor plan.

Illustrated concept floor plan for a Leve Leve shop: shelf, coffee counter, island, try-on bench and fitting room among plants — Moodboard and concept floor plan.

Conceptual visualisation of a pink plastered shop interior with arches, plants, swimwear rails and a café counter — Concept visualisation of the retail environment. Not a built space.