We’ve already told you about the top Spanish fashion brands. Considering the loud roar of the Brazil World Cup fans, I thought of digging out some of Brazil’s top fashion brands and labels. They’re so much more than bright colours and beachwear. Welcome to the world of Brazilian fashion!
1. Havaianas
One of Brazil’s biggest names in fashion, also recognised worldwide, is famous for making something as simple as a pair of flip-flops. It was started in 1962 by Scotsman Robert Fraser, who made footwear inspired by Japanese zori slippers, and the brand is now well recognised for making slippers from the basic styles to those with crazy graphic prints. Havaianas is in India and you can buy them online too!
2. Grendene
In 2002, supermodel Giselle Bundchen partnered with Grendene to launch her line of footwear and propelled the brand into the big league. Interestingly, the brand started as wine producers and made their leap into the footwear market with their plastic sandals branded as, the ‘Melissa’. Grendene now competes with fellow Brazilian and worldwide giant, Havaianas.
3. Mormaii
The brand’s name is a mix of its founders’ nicknames, ‘Morango’ (Marco Aurélio Raymundo) and his first wife, Maira with Hawaii. The company specializes in surf wear, both clothes, accessories and of course, sunglasses. In fact, they are one of the top runners in surfing related sportswear, and style merchandises in the world.
4. Osklen
It’s one of Brazil’s biggest luxury brands started as a clothing line, heavily influenced by a sports theme. Osklen then, turned it into a fashion brand with luxury as its prime focus. The brand prides itself in its concept of harmonization of contrasts. Urban, natural, technological and organic elements form inspiration for this brand and their campaigns have a futuristic feel to them.
5. Colcci
Colcci is a high-end fashion company in Brazil that has outlets in New Jersey, France, Space and Saudi Arabia. Their fashion philosophy feeds into inspirations set in street wise styles with elements of hip-hop and sports themes. In the past, Ashton Kutcher, Paul Walker, Paris Hilton and Giselle Bundchen (obviously) have featured in their runway shows and campaigns.
6. Ellus
Ellus is a luxurious Brazilian denim company with outlets in Japan, U.A.E. and Chile. The brand has a sexy-meet-edgy story line attached to it; a common thought that binds all major denim brands. They also are a regular feature at the Sao Paulo Fashion Week.
7. Forum
Honestly, this brand isn’t as easy to find, perhaps because Forum is a common word online. Nonetheless, Brazil’s Forum is one of the country’s stronger denim and casual street-wear brands. On checking the company’s look-books online, the first thing you’ll notice is their raw street edge influence. Vibrant prints are balanced in the season’s trendiest silhouettes. Forum also does some pretty solid menswear.
8. Triton
Triton comes from the same blanket company, the AMC Group that houses other known Brazilian brands like Forum & Colcci. Their clothes can be described as hipsters going street rad. The mood in their campaigns changes every season, though the soul is the kind that hipsters will relate to.
9. Carlos Miele
He is a self-trained fashion designer and Carlos Miele’s label retails in over 30 countries worldwide. With a premium line under his own name and a more affordable women’s wear line called Carlos Miele Label, the designer’s collections embody the organic Brazilian spirit with a touch of daring femininity.
10. Alexandre Herchcovitch
He is one of Brazil’s fastest growing names in design and is known for his avant-garde take on fashion. In fact, in the 90s, Alexandre Herchcovtich’s skull prints were all the rage among the Brazilian youth. He has shown at runway shows in New York, Sao Paulo, London and Paris fashion weeks.
11. Reinaldo Lourenço
Reinaldo Lourenco was married to designer Gloria Coelho and has a son, Pedro (both appear in this list). His winter 2014 collection comprised of metallic and sharp, tailored looks with a strong sense of lines. The designer has his hands full with 2 collections per year showcased at Sao Paulo Fashion Week and a strong presence in the United States, United Kingdom, France and Japan.
12. Ronaldo Fraga
Ronaldo Fraga comes with a strong design school background. In Brazil, the designer was nominated for his collection based on Zuzu Angel as the best collection for 2002. Apart from his own line, the designer has put his Central Saint Martins’ headgear class to good use. He has a small collection of hats that he produces with his brother on retail in Camden Town that’s famous for its alternative street culture in London. His spring/summer collection at Sao Paulo Fashion Week is strongly influenced by football.
13. Pedro Lourenço
He is the son of designers, Reinaldo Lourenco and Gloria Coelho and he, pretty much holds his own. He entered the big fashion game in Brazil between the ages 7 and 10, and had a collection ready at the age of 12! He temporarily retired from the scene in 2006 to complete his studies and now has returned to bag a partnership with MAC cosmetics.
14. Gloria Coelho
She is a stylist and designer and one of the most respected names in Brazilian fashion. Her clothes represent a class of modern, sophisticated, independent and confident women.
So tell us, which of these Brazilian fashion names were you aware of? Would you like it if they come to India? Tell us in the comments below.