Viva Brazil!
April 22, 2005 | 12:00am
Summer is blazing on and, with the sun shining over our gorgeous pure shores, more and more people are still flocking to the golden sands of the beach and enjoying the warmth of the glowing summer days and the cool crystal clear blue waters. Summer most definitely heralds in days of hedonistic living. While we’re spoiled enough to have our beautiful beaches available to us pretty much all-year round it’s still this time of year that everyone goes beach-crazy and shopping for swimsuits. Of course, suntan oils is number one on everyone’s to-do list.
With that, I’m no exception. Despite having an over-flowing bathing suit (or, as I recently learned it’s called in London, bathing costume) drawer, I’m always still on the lookout for any amazing new bikini or maillot to add to my ever-growing collection. And, thanks to our beloved beach culture, swimsuit shopping in Manila never fails to disappoint. From gorgeous imports from abroad to funky Philippine-made swimwear, it’s a bikini-lovers dream and as time goes by the selection just continues to get bigger with summer must-haves constantly changing as more hot new items become available in the market.
This year it’s quite easy to see what the summer must-have is, not just from our local booming little swimsuit market, but from another beach-cultured sunny hip little country much like the Philippines. Yup, this season’s hottest must-have comes from beautiful Brazil!
That, in itself, is nothing new really. Over the past year Brazil fever has swept the world not excluding our humble Homeland. Brazilian influence has found its way everywhere from intoxicating samba, capoeira, hypnotic music, and most recently covetous fashion staples. Seriously, who out there doesn’t already own a pair or two of reliable and comfy Havaianas (or want one?). My own personal number of these fun flip-flops is quite embarrassing already but that doesn’t deter me from buying a new pair every time new stocks arrive. It’s addicting. And, trust me Brazil’s latest red-hot import – Sunset Brazil – is proving equally addicting as well!
Yes, to complete the Brazilian beach outfit, Limonada Swimwear has begun importing fun, colorful, and stylish bikinis from Brazilian-based company Sunset Brazil. Many of you may have already seen these incredibly cute pieces of swim candy strolling down the beach or soaking up the rays on the shore. Characterized by bright fun Kool-Aid colors, the bikinis, proudly tagged with a little Brazilian flag on the side, are the hip anti-thesis of boring stuck-up bathing suits whose sole purpose is to be seen. These suits are made for swimming. They’re the bubblegum of the beach and truly embody the fun and vibrant spirit of the true bohemian beach chick.
"I fell in love with the colors and designs of these suits when I first saw them," Kat Ripoll of Limonada swimwear relates. The young company she began with good friend Sian Lagdameo is literally built on their shared love of the beach. "I’m a working mom," she adds, "and the idea for bringing in these suits literally came from me surfing DSL during my lunch breaks and coming across Sunset Brazil."
It was love at first sight and soon after she and Sian began talking with the company on how to bring the funky suits to the Philippines. It wasn’t an easy task. Inexperience aside, the determined partners also faced problems with customs and wondering if the new suits would do well in an already saturated swimwear market. But they were persistent and put in the man hours talking to their import partner. The entire process actually took place via the Internet and the phone and pretty soon all the hard work and planning paid off and Kat and Sian brought in their first batch of Brazilian-made bikinis.
"It was a bit difficult for us being first-time entrepreneurs," Sian recounts. "But the Sunset Brazil company was also very helpful in getting us started. They export mostly to the US and Europe and they were really excited to be sending the suits to the Philippines."
Beginning with a small initial batch late last October, Kat and Sian began testing the market and consigning their swimwear to well-known shopping haunts Solea, Chocolate Clothing Co., and Souk. Bringing in only around seven styles in four different colors each, they wanted to make sure that even while providing their clients with a wide selection they were also ensuring them that they’d be able to purchase one-of-a-kind swimwear. This is always a concern because it’s never fun to bump into your bathing suit doppelganger at the beach (especially if you find your suit looks better on them!)
"So far, the response to the swimsuits has been great," Kat says happily, "perhaps because everyone fell in love with Havaianas that paved the way for other Brazilian exports. We feel the suits are very reasonably priced and to our great joy people have really been picking them up. As a matter of fact, a lot of initial sales were done simply through word of mouth. We’re really happy about that but at the same time we also feel the suits are so adorable they really sell themselves."
Made from a Cotton Dupont Lycra blend, the beautiful bikinis from Sunset Brazil are sturdy and need no additional lining or padding. "We know how Filipinas can be pretty shy about bikini tops or worry about their suits becoming see-through so we really road-tested these bikinis," Sian explains, "from wearing them to actually going into the water. They’re thick comfortable suits that leave the wearer worry-free."
They’re beautiful as well. The original funky designs of Sunset Brazil’s colorful line are eye-catching and one-of-a-kind. These handmade bikinis boast not only having prints but being textured as well. Interesting details such as sewn on flowers or loud colorful stitching are a signature in their bathing suits along with beautiful hand-painted floral designs as well as numerous tributes to Brazil like Brazilian flag tops or Brazil beaded bottoms. It’s all about original and inventive details and each swimsuit has at least one handmade feature be it stitching, painting, or crocheting, After all, the devil is in the details, and these suits certainly prove that.
So, to all fellow beach-lovers out there, continue to enjoy your beautiful summer vacation. If you’re looking for the perfect bikini companion to aid you in your quest for that elusive Greek goddess tan, look no further – Brazil’s latest export is the answer to every bohemian beach gal’s dreams!
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