Miami Beach

The Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim in Miami Beach 2014

POKO PANO

In 1987, Paola Robba was a trainee of a great multinational company in Brazil; she had an envied and coveted position for almost her whole university studies. However, it didn't represent a thing for her. Her dreams and desires were beyond her functions. At that time, Paola had a friend who owned a fashion beachwear store and it was necessary in the business to have good suppliers. So, everything started! All of a sudden, Paola thought: "If I've always been able to make bikinis and maillots for my dolls, why not try to do something new in my life?"

Thirteen years of her life have already passed by as a businesswoman and as a fashion designer of one of the most known and promising grifes of beachwear. At first, everything was hard. She had only one dress and her studio was in the garage of her house. She only produced three pieces a day. She drew, cut, and commercialized. Her small production was sold in a short period of time. But she only had one customer. Time went by and soon her production reached 150 pieces a month.
It was already a success, but she wanted more and more, so she started to look for new customers.

Her studio in her garage was then excessively small and she went for the next step. She found a bigger place and opened new business and markets. Now she is settled and has a partner who used to be only a customer.In 1986, her company was called "LE GARAGE", and it was in a shed with a team of 10 professionals. Then the first problem arose: what to do seasonally with this segment? It wasn't exactly a problem for her. Paola faced it as a challenge and she went for the solutions. It was the beginning of a new dream and a new goal: exportation. In the mid 1990's, the brand contracted a trading agreement and her pieces reached a foreign market: Venezuela.

The domestic market became a great business. Year by year, the success was quick. Everything produced was sold.In 1992, 1,500 pieces. In 1993, 2,000 pieces. In 1994, they already had a good "know-how." It was time to invest big in the internal market. So they did. They were occupying a small room, complete with logistics, qualified employees, and they were accepted with the visibility of their products in Brazil. It was through Portugal that Poko Pano restarted its route of distribution throughout the external market by publicizing a special program of Brazilian products and manufacturers overseas.

At first, many samples were sent in a small order just to try the market. The demand for the products was so high that in the same year, 1994, Poko Pano had its grand opening: the first retail store. The "dream" became reality: the bikinis which Paola used to make for her dolls were dressing many women.In 1995, Poko Pano's bikinis and bathing suits saw big demand in Lisbon. In 1997, Portugal was too little for the brand, and Japan, Spain, and other European countries started to sell Poko Pano. In each country, they had a representative office. In Brazil, the sales grew each season and their own stores came quickly.

In 1999, Mexico, the US, Australia, Chile, Hawaii, South Africa looked for the quality and design the brand possessed, increasing Poko Pano's sales. With such a success, they started to participate in international trade shows, specializing in beachwear and surfwear, in Miami, San Diego, Mexico City and the Canary Islands.In 2000, Portugal held 15% of its total production. It opened two more stores, one in Moura Village, Algarve surroundings and another one in the Coast of Caparica, Lisbon. Then, Poko Pano was turned into a multinational company with Brazilian investment.

In 2001, the brand flowed with triumph. More fortified, with 560 points of sale and several distributors across the world. In 2002, Poko Pano gained amazing respect in the fashion world, being invited to participate in one of the biggest fashion events in Brazil, and one of the greatest in the world, "Sao Paulo Fashion Week."In 2006, the brand was sold in more than 380 sell points around Brazil with 2 stores in Brazil and 2 in the international market.
In 2007, Poko Pano was invited to participate in Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim in Miami.

AGUACLARA SWIMWEAR

Liliana Villalobos was born in Lima, Peru, on January 17, 1964. She was the youngest of six siblings, four brothers and two sisters. During school years, she lived in Lima, Peru, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Cuzco, Peru until 1980. She was a very active, sports-loving person and stood out as a gymnast as a child, representing Peru at international rowing competitors.

After finishing high school, she studied Art Courses at the University of Lima. Then, restless as she was, she moved to Miami to have a taste of the outside world.She lived and worked in Miami for three years, first as a waitress at a couple of restaurants and then as a car insurance salesperson. Living in a foreign country opened her mind to new risks and gave her the experience that only one can acquire through life.

In 1988, she returned to Lima with some sewing machine heads and lots of ideas - Peruvian government had banned machinery imports at that time. She went into partnership with her brother Jorge Villalobos - current Director of Applauzi Peru and Applauzi International Corp. USA - to incorporate Applauzi S.A. (bathing suits manufacturing).

In 1993, she married Fernando Almaraz-Grandchant and is now the mother of three children: Josefina, 18 years old, Fernanda, 16 years old, and Mauricio, 12 years old. Currently she is the Director of the Tailoring Committee of the National Industrial Association, and gives lectures on tendencies to different organizations in the same line of business.
From the beginning, Liliana has been in charge of designing the beachwear, underwear and sportswear.

In 1994, her designers were basically oriented to the South American market. They were rather versatile to fit and be compatible with the different countries and markets/clients. Later on, in 1998, the AGUACLARA brand name was created, made especially to access the European and North American markets with a touch of Latin flavor.

Liliana is always on the move, traveling, in pursuit of new things, and looking into future trends.
Her designs are influenced by the riches of the Amazon and its ethnics, the Andes and the ocean, and are reflected on the different animal fur styles.
This year, her collection includes colors which are all the joy and vigor of the Andean world, impacting highly sophisticated and exotic prints, impressive and exquisite handmade embroidery.

The accessories are so chic, so exquisite. The delicate and sensual. 100% silk compliments and the finest cotton textures stand out. The sexy and symmetric silhouettes complete this impacting Aguaclara's 2013 Collection launched to the world from the Northern exotic Peruvian beaches with all the influence of the majestic Andes and the exuberant Peruvian jungle...a splendid expression of female daring.

A.Z ARAUJO


A.Z Araujo grew up in Boqueirao, Brazil working on his father’s farm at a very young age. Born in Rio de Janeiro, A.Z and his family moved to Boqueirao when he was ten years old. A.Z was inspired by his aunt Maria after watching her make clothes for prominent people in a small town. After finishing his schooling A.Z returned to Rio to pursue a career in acting. A.Z starred in a very popular Brazilian soap opera in the mid 90´s. While acting, A.Z befriended a wardrobe artist on soap opera sets and this is when he developed his taste for fashion and style. A.Z began working as an assistant to Hilda Marinho, a famous costume designer in Rio de Janeiro.

A.Z learned about classic details and bespoke tailoring with some of the best fabrics in the world in the atelier of Ms. Marinho.
A.Z decided to spread his wings and move to New York seven years ago to discover fashion on a much grander scale. While working in several fashion venues and fashion productions in the community, A.Z felt it was time to start A.Z Araujo.
A.Z Araujo collection will combine the sexiness of Brazil with the chic edgy presence of the New York consumer. A.Z will focus a huge part of the collection on swim wear mastering the Brazilian cut and feel, and round out the collection with a few dresses and separates.

VIX PAULA HERMANNY

One grandmother a seamstress, the other a world-traveling beauty queen...both had impeccable taste and an eye for craftsmanship. These are the influences that, from childhood, shaped ViX designer Paula Hermanny into one of the most innovative designers in luxury resort wear today.

"As a young girl, I looked up to my grandmother, Joana, She was always beautiful, classic and perfect - from her little Chanel flats to her Burberry raincoat," Paula said. Joana's flair for style was tempered by classic European taste and these elements provided a young Paula with what would soon become her own basic principles of design.

Paula later learned the importance of well-made clothing from her maternal grandmother, Izaura. She taught Paula to strive for quality construction and exceptional fit. They would shop the markets of Vitoria together, choosing fabrics and re-interpreting trends to make their dresses by hand.

From her two talented grandmothers, Paula took Joana's style and taste with Izaura's skill and technique and made these qualities her own. Hers was a heritage that combined both fashion and function - thus a natural entrepreneur was born.

From her home in La Jolla, California, Paula soaks up the sun in one of the most progressive fashion markets in the world of beach and resort wear. Her frequent trips abroad give her a discerning sense of style with an eye for details. With a passion for bringing the Brazilian lifestyle to America, Paula's eponymous line delivers sophisticated, timeless designs rooted in a tradition of fine Brazilian craftsmanship