São Paulo – Eleven years ago, in one of the beautiful coastal cities of Northeastern Brazil, Areia Dourada was established, geared at beach fashion and fitness garments. Currently, the garment producer makes 10,000 items a month, of which 10% are exported, part to a client in Lebanon.
“It is a client that has been purchasing for five years. Whenever I participate in the fair in Lyon, France, he buys,” said Graça Menezes, the owner of Areia Dourada. She explains that with each order, the Lebanese client, a representative of K-Group, in Beirut, buys between 500 to 600 pieces. “He generally likes different articles, bikinis with accessories and draperies, glossy, with different finishing and prints,” said the businesswoman.
The first Areia Dourada export was to a group of Italian buyers that closed the order in Brazil. However, exports only grew when Graça started participating in international fairs in France and Spain. “I started appreciating the product, adding value. There is no point in travelling abroad with a basic product, you have to go with a differential in quality and design, something that has the face of Brazil,” she pointed out.
So, what are the Areia Dourada differentials? “The print and the exclusive accessories. We develop research both in material and design,” said Graça. “We do not use that thick lycra, we use fluit, a kind of lighter and finer fabric, made from polyamide and elastane,” she says. With well worked products, the brand has also won clients in Greece, Russia, Spain and France.
To increase exports, Graça plans to return to the Madrid International Salon, next year. She also plans to increase her staff, which currently includes 15 people, including those in garment production and at the shop in the city of Natal. Areia Dourada annual revenues range from 600,000 to 700,000 Brazilian reals (US$ 330.000 to US$ 380.000).
Contact
Areia Dourada
Tel.: (+55 84) 3219-4911
E-mail: gmenezes@areiadourada.com.br
Site: www.areiadourada.com.br
*Translated by Mark Ament
