São Paulo – The bikinis and bathing suits of brand Água de Coco, from Ceará, are already shipped to over 20 countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia. The company, which is headquartered in Fortaleza, is working to double production and increase its volume of sales on the foreign market.
The first contacts made with Arab importers, retailers and distributors, was two years ago during the São Paulo Fasihon Week, one of the main fashion weeks in Latin America. According to information disclosed by the export department at the company, Arab retailers are still coming to the country for the event and are making orders.
The parts exported by the Arab countries are the most detailed and have export models, with a larger bottom part than the Brazilian line. When considering the foreign market, the brand produces two kinds of models, one exclusively for American women and another for export in general.
Currently, of the total produced by Água de Coco, between 15% and 20% is turned to the foreign market. Despite the crisis, the brand is betting on growth of exports, so much so that one year ago they opened a trade office in the United States, one of the main markets for the Brazilian brand.
According to the export department at Água de Coco, the company sees the Arab countries as potential markets with great capacity for development of sales to the region. Apart from contacts in Brazil, the company is always present in international events, where they also make contact with Arab importers. This year, the next international event in which Água de Coco will be present should be the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, one of the main beach fashion parades in the world, which takes place in Miami.
Apart from bikinis and bathing suits, the brand produces smocks, handbags and accessories for women and swimming trunks, Bermuda shorts and shorts for men. With over 500 employees, in the factory and shops, the brand has monthly production of 40,000 swimwear and fitness items and accessories. The products may be found in all states in Brazil, in over 350 multibrand shops and 15 own shops.
A dream
The mother of the brand is stylist Liana Thomaz, who, with just one sewing machine, started producing beach fashion in 1985. She was seeking a dream: launching a quality brand. Today, Água de Coco has renowned space in Brazil and abroad.
The fame of the brand reached such a dimension that, in 2006, Água de Coco established a partnership with Victoria’s Secret, the largest lingerie and beach fashion chain in the world. On the international press, the Canadian brand has already appeared in publications like Elle, Marie Claire, Teen Vogue and Glamour, among others.
Contact
Água de Coco
Telephone: (+55 85) 4008-0088
E-mail: aguadecoco@aguadecoco.com.br
Site: www.aguadecoco.com.br
*Translated by Mark Ament
