RIMMBA Mermaids Underwater
-- Mermaids of Silk & Sea --
Water as the Sacred Origin
In Bali, water is sacred — the source of life and the vessel to which all things return. It carries us through every stage of existence. At birth, water is our first home, the womb where life begins. At death, in the Ngaben cremation ritual, a person’s ashes are placed in a coconut shell and carried to the ocean — the great purifier — in a ceremony of release and renewal.
The ocean is not only sacred in ritual but also in reality: it sustains all life on Earth, holding nearly 80% of the world’s living beings and covering more than 70% of our planet. It is womb and grave, memory and spirit, a place of renewal that binds us all.
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Lily Silk Dress & Aphrodite Marigold Silk Dress
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Mermaids & Silk
Seeing silk dancing in the ocean during this project was profoundly moving. After reflecting on how water carries life, memory, and spirit, to witness fabric — something crafted by human hands — surrender to the sea felt almost ceremonial. At RIMMBA, everything we do is deeply intentional and infused with ceremony, much like life in Bali, where rituals unfold daily.
Among the pieces we brought into the ocean were the Lily White Silk Dress and the Aphrodite Silk Dress, their long ribbons drifting freely and merging with the spectacular light and reflection of the water.
This was also the first time we brought naturally dyed silk dresses underwater, letting them dance with the currents. It was deeply special to watch the marigold yellow of the Aphrodite Dress glow through the ripples, its botanical dye reflecting back the light of the sea. A natural process mirrored through water itself — magical and alive.
Lily Silk Dress & Aphrodite Marigold Silk Dress
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The Photographer & Her Mermaids
This collaboration was born from Kirsty McQue’s vision. Her underwater photography beautifully explores the intersection of body, movement, and ocean—meditations on strength, surrender, and transformation.
Her “mermaids” are not professional models but freedivers, ocean enthusiasts, and everyday women with a deep love for the sea. Each brings her own way of honoring and caring for the ocean, reminding us that protecting the water is a responsibility we all share.
It has been an absolute joy to work with Kirsty. She flows effortlessly in her element, always striving for the best shot and going above and beyond. On top of her incredible talent, she brings warmth, creativity, and positive energy to every frame—working alongside her has been a true gift.
Please check out all her exquisite prints here, and visit her website kirstyinmotion.com
Lily Silk Dress & Aphrodite Marigold Silk Dress
