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The 2016 Olympic Games are set to kick off tomorrow (August 5th) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Brimming with talent, the South American country is home to some of the world’s best soccer players and top models—we’re looking at you, Gisele Bündchen. It’s also the native land of seven sought-after designers. Before the Games begin, we reveal the covetable Brazilian brands that will infuse your wardrobe with flavor and flair.
BARBARA CASASOLA
Barbara Casasola Fall 2016 Ready-to-Wear
Barbara Casasola is the Brazilian designer behind her eponymous ready-to-wear label. Tailoring and fit lie at the heart of the womenswear brand, and the designer draws on feminine and masculine references before reinterpreting them through contemporary and sophisticated silhouettes. Before establishing her London-based label in 2012, Casasola attended Central Saint Martins and worked for Roberto Cavalli in Milan. Fans of the “Made in Italy” label include Oscar-winning actress Alicia Vikander, singer Solange, and the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton. The royal recently turned heads in a cream, tea-length, off-the-shoulder dress by the Brazilian designer.
ISOLDA
Photos courtesy of Isolda
Bursting with color and vivacious prints, Isolda creations are inspired by the South American country’s lush landscape. Co-founded by childhood Juliana Affonso Ferreira and Maya Pope in 2011, the brand serves as a tribute to the duo’s native country. Hand-painted designs feature succulent fruits, botanical blooms, and tile motifs that trace contemporary separates and feminine pieces. Bitten by the Olympics bug, the designers recently unveiled a capsule collection of activewear that showcases their signature vivid prints.
AGUA DE COCO
Photos courtesy of Agua de Coco
Liana Thomaz is one of the most celebrated designers to hail from Brazil, and is the woman behind luxury beachwear brand Agua de Coco. Thomaz launched her label in 1985 with just a single sewing machine and seamstress. Over thirty years later, Agua de Coco makes for one of the most anticipated shows held during the semi-annual São Paulo Fashion Week, with top models such as Adriana Lima, Alessandra Ambrosio, and Isabeli Fontana taking to the catwalk in the covetable swimwear designs. Imbued with embroidery, crochet details, lace, and vivid prints, the line includes sultry bikinis and on-trend swimsuits, as well as an array of beach essentials like cover-ups, kaftans, and dresses.
ADRIANA DEGREAS
Photos courtesy of Adriana Degreas
Adriana Degreas is another luxury beachwear brand synonymous with “Bain Couture” to come out of Brazil. Having grown up in a fashion-orientated family, the designer launched her namesake label in 2001. Degreas’ grandfather owned a textile company while her grandmother ran an antique boutique that also sold a curated selection of designer pieces, including garments by Emilio Pucci and Alaïa. Adriana Degreas is distinct for chic swimwear cuts and sophisticated designs that feature her signature lush banana leaf prints. The striking details (such as mesh paneling and cut-outs) have made the brand a cult favorite among the fashion pack, with It girl Noor Fares and model Suki Waterhouse spotted in the covetable swimwear silhouettes.
ALEXANDRE BIRMAN
alexandrebirman / Instagram
Destined to design heels, Brazilian luxury footwear designer Alexandre Birman was raised surrounded by shoes. He launched his eponymous label in 2008, and has since captured the attention of well-heeled women like actresses Kate Hudson and Jessica Alba, as well as singer Jennifer Lopez. Birman is known for using exotic skins across sensual designs, including cut-out sandals, low vamp pumps, and sexy boots. If shoes could kill, Birman’s meticulously crafted creations would have a lot to answer for.
RODRIGO MASSOT
Photos courtesy of Rodrigo Massot
Saturated gems and striking designs can be found amid Rodrigo Massot’s fine jewelry pieces. The young Brazilian jewelry designer is known for his medley of gemstones—one that includes fire opals, sapphires, rubies, and emeralds. Drawing inspiration from Amazonian tribes, Massot combines the stones with coral and rare woods to create mosaic motif pieces and bold, handcrafted silhouettes.
FERNANDO JORGE
Photo courtesy of Fernando Jorge
Fernando Jorge is a Brazilian fine jewelry designer who divides his business between São Paulo and London, where his brand is based. Ten years prior to launching his namesake label in 2010, the Central Saint Martins master’s graduate worked in jewelry manufacturing as well as production for a number of Brazilian jewelry brands. Inspired by the curvaceous contours of Brazilian body shapes, Jorge creates minimal designs that stand out for their fluid curvature lines, precious gemstones, and colorful minerals.
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