Behind the Seams: The Story of the Belle Maxi Dress
Great designs don't happen overnight—they're born from passion, persistence, and a deep desire to create something truly special. The Belle Maxi Dress is not just a piece of clothing; it's Talia's first-ever design and the embodiment of Cocopiña's vision. It represents a labor of love that took over 1.5 years of designing, sampling, fabric selection, and refinement before we were finally ready to share it with the world.
The Spark of Inspiration
The Belle dress started as a dream to create something that perfectly balanced style and function. Talia envisioned a dress with a chic yet bohemian touch that you could wear while strolling through town or exploring a new destination. It needed to be comfortable for all-day wear, yet always look stunning in photos whenever an opportunity arises.
As avid travelers ourselves, we understand the importance of functionality in travel clothing. That's why we added practical pockets to store essentials and built in flexibility so you can wear it comfortably all day long. Another issue we frequently encountered was the transparency of light-colored dresses in photos. We spent considerable time finding the perfect fabric that was comfortable, felt good against the skin, and most importantly, was never see-through—ensuring you feel confident wherever your adventures take you.
We created this dress for everyone who dreams of exploring the world, near and far. The Belle Maxi Dress is the perfect companion wherever you find yourself, whether meeting a friend for coffee or wandering through the side alleys of Hanoi. It makes you feel comfortable, confident, and always picture-ready.
The Journey of Creation
At times, Talia had over 100 different dresses in her closet. While she loved many of them, there was always something she wanted to change or improve. With the Belle dress, she finally designed the dress she had always wanted.
From initial concept to final product, the journey wasn't easy. As our first design, there was a steep learning curve. We spent countless hours selecting the right fabric, colors, and features. We obsessed over details like the perfect tightness for the smocking, testing dozens of different elastics and patterns until we got it just right.
Here is Talia wearing the Belle Maxi Dress for the very first time.
The fabric selection was particularly crucial. We were determined to find high-quality, sustainable material that felt incredibly comfortable while maintaining its structure and opacity. We went through multiple samples with fabrics that simply didn't work before finding the perfect match.
When designing the Belle dress, we purposely avoided the mass-production mindset. Instead, we created a tailor-fit dress that's precisely cut and crafted to look and fit perfectly. While these details make the pattern more complex and expensive to produce, we believe that attention to these small elements adds up to create a superior dress that will bring joy for years to come.
This was the first reel we posted of our Belle Dress and we still love it.
What Makes the Belle Maxi Dress Special
The Belle Maxi Dress offers unmatched comfort for all-day wear. We designed it with just the right amount of flexibility to hug your body comfortably—so comfortable you won't want to take it off. Our style blends chic, elegant design with bohemian charm to create something truly unique.
We added generous volume to the skirt for perfect flow. Once you put the dress on, you immediately feel the difference. We carefully balanced the volume and the weight of the fabric to create that magical feeling of movement when you walk.
The dress features a thoughtfully designed smocked bodice and waistband that ensure a perfect fit for various body types. The convertible flutter sleeves can be worn two ways, offering versatility for different occasions and personal preferences. We added a tassel-tie waist for adjustability and, of course, practical pockets—because every great dress deserves them!
Perhaps most impressive is the Belle's versatility. Wear it to the beach, for brunch, while exploring a new place, or for a nice dinner—the Belle dress is always appropriate and always stunning.
The Role of Sustainability
From the very beginning, sustainability has been at the heart of Cocopiña. We've made it our mission to source sustainable materials and manufacture ethically, even when it wasn't the easiest path.
As a small business producing in limited quantities, finding vendors who could provide the high-quality, sustainable fabrics we wanted in smaller amounts was challenging. But we persevered and found partners who shared our values. We're committed to using sustainable materials even when it means paying more for raw materials—because we believe it's worth it.
Every vendor we work with has been personally inspected by us to ensure they align with our ethical standards. At Cocopiña, we're proud to embrace slow fashion, prioritizing quality craftsmanship and timeless designs over trends and mass production.
Talia's Personal Connection
The Belle Dress marked the beginning of Cocopiña (originally called Coconuts and Pineapples, but we found the name too long and shortened it). Creating this dress proved to us that we could actually bring Talia's vision to life—that we could create clothing that checked all her boxes for style, comfort, and functionality.
The journey wasn't without struggles. Designing our first dress came with a lot of work, sweat, and yes, some tears. When we received the first sample, it looked quite different from what we had envisioned. But with each iteration, we got closer to Talia's original vision.
Receiving the final sample was an emotional moment. After all the hard work and perseverance, we knew this dress was special—not just because of the time and effort we invested, but because it truly reflected what we wanted Cocopiña to become: a brand that inspires adventure while embracing sustainability and ethical values.
How Women Around the World are Styling It
Since its creation, the Belle dress has traveled the world, helping create lasting positive memories for women everywhere. From wandering the streets of Italy to exploring Thailand's temples, Japan's old towns, or the beauty of our national parks, our Belle dress has journeyed near and far, always looking perfectly at home.
We've been delighted to see how women style it differently—some pairing it with sandals and a straw hat for beach days, others adding elegant accessories for evening events, proving its incredible versatility.
Shop with confidence
We believe in our products so completely that we offer free domestic shipping on all orders and returns for a full refund if you're not completely satisfied with your purchase.
The Belle Maxi Dress represents everything we stand for at Cocopiña—thoughtful design, ethical production, and versatile style that inspires you to dream and explore. Experience the Belle dress for yourself and discover why it is our signature piece, making it the ideal companion for any adventure.
