Pubblicato da Samantha Sung
il 02/06/2026
Azulejo Portuguese · Cobalt Blue · Samantha Sung
The Story Behind Our Cobalt Blue Dresses
Azulejo Portuguese · Hand-Printed Eight Times Over
B lue has always been one of my favorite colors. In fact, it is one of the reasons I continue to work with hand-printing today. This particular cobalt blue is one of the most difficult colors to achieve. In the old days, royal colors were often associated with deep cobalt blue because it was so rare and so beautiful. Even today, it is a color that machine printing struggles to reproduce with the same depth and richness. That is why you will see so many blues throughout my collections. The unique quality of hand-printing allows us to create a range of blues, from the lightest tones to the deepest cobalt shades, that simply cannot be achieved in the same way through mass production.
Quick Answer
What makes the Azulejo Portuguese Cobalt Blue dress special?
- Hand-printed eight times over each section. The skirt, the bodice, the belt, and the scarf are each printed independently to engineer the pattern across the silhouette.
- Available in two silhouettes. The Aster Dress and the Audrey Dress #4. Both midi length, both Cotton Musola, both $1,197.50.
- Six colorways across the Azulejo Portuguese print. Cobalt Blue, Sea Blue, Pink, Lilac, Jade, Green.
- Made in Cotton Musola, sizes XXS through XXXXL. Inspired by the painted ceramic tiles of Portugal.
Why Cobalt Blue Is Difficult
In the old days, royal colors were often associated with deep cobalt blue because it was so rare and so beautiful. Even today, machine printing struggles to reproduce its depth and richness. Blue has always been one of our best-selling colors. Porcelain Blue, Cobalt Blue, and Indigo Blue continue to be favorites because they are timeless, elegant, and uniquely expressive.
"That is why you will see so many blues throughout my collections."
Eight Printing Passes Per Section
Every dress requires an extraordinary amount of work. For this design, each section is printed separately. The skirt is printed eight times. The bodice is printed eight times. The belt is printed eight times. The scarf is printed eight times. Layer by layer, color by color, the print gradually comes to life.
It is a lengthy process, but it creates something truly special.
"Layer by layer, color by color, the print gradually comes to life."
Pattern Engineered for Every Panel
When you look closely at this dress, the design appears effortless. But behind that simplicity is careful engineering. The pattern is arranged differently for every element of the dress. The skirt is laid out in one direction. The bodice is placed horizontally. The belt is designed separately. The scarf receives its own unique pattern placement as well.
Each component must be planned independently so that the finished dress feels harmonious when worn. What appears simple is actually the result of countless design decisions, hand craftsmanship, and many hours of work.
"That is the beauty of hand-printing."
Aster Dress · Cobalt Blue
Two Silhouettes
The same Azulejo Portuguese print, engineered for two different dresses.
Six Colorways
Choose your blue. Or choose another color entirely.
White Cobalt Blue
White Sea Blue
White Pink
White Jade
White Lilac
White Green
Signature Blues
Porcelain Blue · Cobalt Blue · Indigo Blue
Three blues that continue to be favorites because they are timeless, elegant, and uniquely expressive.
Designer's Notes
Why is cobalt blue so important in the collection?
Cobalt blue is one of the most difficult colors to achieve beautifully. Hand-printing allows us to create a richness and depth that machine printing cannot easily replicate. In the old days, royal colors were often associated with deep cobalt blue because it was so rare. That history still shapes how we work with the color today.
Why does hand-printing matter?
Hand-printing creates subtle variation, depth, and character in the fabric. It also allows us to work with colors and effects that are difficult to achieve through mass production methods.
How many times is each dress printed?
Each major section of the dress is printed eight times. The skirt, bodice, belt, and scarf all require separate printing stages, resulting in dozens of individual printing passes for a single garment.
Why does the pattern look different on different parts of the dress?
Each section is engineered separately. The skirt, bodice, belt, and scarf are designed with their own pattern placements so the finished dress feels balanced and intentional from every angle.
What are Samantha Sung's most popular blue tones?
Porcelain Blue, Cobalt Blue, and Indigo Blue have consistently been among our most loved and best-selling colors.
What makes these dresses different from printed dresses found elsewhere?
Every print is carefully developed, hand-printed, and engineered specifically for the silhouette. The placement of the artwork, the color depth, and the craftsmanship involved create a level of detail that cannot be achieved through standard mass production.
What is the Azulejo Portuguese print inspired by?
The print is inspired by the painted ceramic tiles of Portugal — azulejos. These hand-painted tiles have decorated Portuguese palaces, churches, and homes for centuries, and the depth of their cobalt blues was one of the original sources of the print's color palette.
What sizes are available?
Both the Aster and Audrey #4 dresses in Azulejo Portuguese are available in sizes XXS through XXXXL, in all six colorways.
