Omar Nasser, from Fiep*
Curitiba – Beach fashion from the state of Paraná is reaching Egypt. Tourists going to resorts on the coast of Alexandria, in the North of the country, may purchase bikinis and bathing suits made by Água Fresca. The factory, located in the city of Pinhais, in the metropolitan region of Curitiba, has been operating in the beach and fitness sector for ten years. And the plan is to expand business with the Arabs. The objective, according to Álvaro Baggio Moscalewski Filho, the owner of the brand, is to win new clients in North Africa and the Middle East.
The first exports to Egypt took place in January this year, when the company was visited by Adel Shaker, the chairman at Nile International. The Egyptian businessman was interested in what he saw. "We are trying to work with more comfortable, classic models, maintaining Brazilian design," explained Baggio. "Apart from that, we also use sewn and embroidery items, like metal rings and buckles, making the product differentiated." Other items that generated interest were the tropical details, like native tree seeds and shells that the company adds to the products.
The initial order was for 200 articles. "We had some articles ready and in three days we managed to deliver the complete order, which attracted the attention of the businessman," according to the owner of Água Fresca, to whom agility is a differential for success. Apart from that, the company bets on the quality of inputs and on attention to tendencies.
Participation in fashion fairs and events in Brazil and abroad, including Première Vision, in Paris, is fundamental for those interested in surviving in the sector. Baggio says that he is interested in expanding business in North Africa and the Middle East. At the moment, the company, which counts on a stylist and specialized designers, is working on the creation of a line geared at the northern summer of 2009. The Arabs are, once again, among the targets.
Água Fresca has always been interested in operating on the foreign market, explained Baggio. Established in 1998, two years later the organisation was exporting. To reach this objective, the company has always participated in international fairs and events, guaranteeing the promotion of business and the making of contacts. With installed capacity for production of 30,000 items a month, Água Fresca produced 60,000 units last year. Apart from their own brand, the company also supplies the private label sector, producing for other brands.
Contact
Água Fresca
Telephone: (+55 41) 3653-5517
E-mail: aguafresca@terra.com.br
*Federation of Industries of the State of Paraná (Fiep). Translated by Mark Ament
