Papery thin and Pacific BOLD is Vivienne Tam for spring

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From Style Correspondent Elsa Klensch

NEW YORK (CNN) -- A tropical heatwave blows through the spring/summer collection of designer Vivienne Tam.

She says the vibrant colors and patterns associated with Pacific Islands inspire her.So she makes bold, oversized prints -- some hand-painted, others computer-generated.

And she uses appliques, embroidery, crochet and beading to bring home her paradise theme.

"Lots of pretty colors, like for people that are imagining going on vacation to really beautiful, exotic places like Bali, Hawaii," Tam says. "So all this color, tropical flowers, oceans, that really inspire me."

The designer says cotton is a natural for hot weather and she's using plenty of it. But she also likes what she calls a quilted "techno-fabric" made from paper.

"Paper is such an interesting fabric for me because it's so lightweight and then you can fold it easily," Tam says. "But it's really washable and durable too. When you wear it, it's like wearing air."