Travel

Designer Ulla Johnson’s Trancoso Travel Guide

By Annie Davidson and Mallory Schlau on May 07, 2018

The indie designer with a colorful sensibility takes us on a tour of her favorite Brazilian hotspot.

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Ulla Johnson not only sources inspiration for her namesake label during her worldwide travels, but she also enlists local artisans from countries like Peru and India to handcraft her pieces. Now, she looks to Brazil and returns with an exclusive travel guide for DEPARTURES.

While womenswear designer Ulla Johnson was born and raised in Manhattan, and now lives in Brooklyn with her husband and three children, it’s her global travels that inspire her free-spirited, nomadic clothing designs. Upon returning from her most recent trip to Brazil, Johnson shares exclusively with DEPARTURES her insider tips from where to find the second oldest church in Brazil to the freshest coconut water.

 
Courtesy of Ulla Johnson

The fruit in Brazil is AMAZING. We started each morning with fresh fruits and juices.
Courtesy of Ulla Johnson

Catch of the day at the beach club. Those colors just blew me away.
Courtesy of Ulla Johnson

We rented a house that was part of the Uxua resort right off the Quadrado. Lots of space is essential when traveling with the kiddies. The Uxua aesthetic is amazing, everything was handmade and locally sourced.
Courtesy of Ulla Johnson

Sipping on fresh coconut water at the Uxua Praia beach bar.
Courtesy of Ulla Johnson

The flower game in Brazil was mindblowing!
Courtesy of Ulla Johnson

My daughter Agnes made some friends on the beach.
Courtesy of Ulla Johnson

The main square, also known as the Quadrado has loads of cute restaurants and cute shops. I am a total basket hoarder–was so hard to decide between all the beauties we found there.
Courtesy of Ulla Johnson

The second oldest church in Brazil, Igreja de Sao Joao. It’s a very humble church, super small and rustic but so elegant in its perch above the water.
Courtesy of Ulla Johnson

Taking a walk with my son, Ash, on Praia do Espelho.
Courtesy of Ulla Johnson

Just south of Trancoso, the cliffs at Praia do Espelho. So beautiful and the tiny restaurant da Silvinha nearby is worth the trip.
Courtesy of Ulla Johnson

Just south of Trancoso, the cliffs at Praia do Espelho. So beautiful and the tiny restaurant da Silvinha nearby is worth the trip.
Courtesy of Ulla Johnson

The Hania dress was perfect for dinner at Capim Santo, our favorite local dinner spot.
Courtesy of Ulla Johnson

This natural indigo dyed, hand-loomed, hand-macrame dress is my fav everyday beach frock.
Courtesy of Ulla Johnson

Before we landed in Trancoso, we stopped in Sao Paolo where we explored the Museum of Contemporary Art among other galleries and museums.

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