That Brazilian Thang...Brazilian Bikinis Are Still Hot Stuff

Let's face it, the Brazilians have had a corner on the bikini market for...oh, I don't know...30+ years now.  It's easy to understand why...The Brazilians live in a constant state of passion and they're especially passionate about the beach and their beach bodies.  They love to look good on the sand!  The Brazilian swimsuit styles cater to most tastes from ridiculously tiny and youthful, to the luxurious high end swimwear market, for the more discerning customer.  Here's our list of Brazilian swimsuit labels for this season, starting with the least expensive and going on up:

Salinas Swimwear 

Salinas Swimwear 2012 - Jobi Bikini



Here's one good reason why Salinas has stayed around for so long...their bikinis are very affordable, with the 2012 bikinis starting at only $129.  (We have a few 2011 Salinas bikinis left starting at only $69.  Grab'm while their hot.)  Besides being easy on the wallet, they're pretty darn cute.  This season they did some twisted bandeau bikini tops, sweet ruffled bikini bottoms, moderate hipster styles and, of course, their original signature prints.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cia.Maritima Swimwear



Cia.Maritima Swimwear 2012 - Sorrento Bikini



Benny Rosset is the designer for Cia.Maritima Swimwear and he knows just what a young bikini buyer wants...cute stuff, great fit and reasonably priced.  This year, his swimsuits have a starting price of only $139.  He did a few ruffled bikini bottoms and a couple of Brazilian bandeau bikinis.  I especially like the moody, brown, cream and purple fabric he used on this adjustable halter bikini.












Sauipe Swimwear


 Sauipe Swimwear - Bianca Bikini



I stumbled on to Sauipe Swimwear a couple of years ago.  Although, it's not a well-known line yet, I'm sure it will be down the road.  The designer, Marcia Hacker, has a keen eye for beauty, elegance and quality details, not to mention, she's just the dearest person and a delight to work with.  All of her swimwear styles are simply top notch, made with beautiful findings and fabrics, with close attention to fit.  This is definitely a high-end swimsuit line and would sell well in up-scale boutiques and department stores.  We are lucky to be able to offer Sauipe Swimwear to our customers with prices starting at $160.

Ank Swimwear


ANK Swimwear 2012 - Nanga Bikini



This is the first year that we will carry ANK Swimwear.  Their shipment just came in and I was blown away.  Mirla Sabino has created some gorgeous swimsuits!  Like Sauipe, ANK Swimwear is another high quality swimsuit line.  Ms. Sabino takes some chances with some of her swimsuit designs and she pulls it all off beautifully.  She has one bikini top with a high, arched bra cup that looks stunning and ultra-chic.  ANK swimwear prices in our store begin at $169.

Lenny Swimwear

Lenny Swimwear 2012 - Diamond T-Back Brown Bikini


Lenny Swimwear has been in our swim line-up for several years now.  This is a luxe Swimwear line, no doubt about it and their prices reflect that.  All being said, Lenny's fabulous swimsuits are worth every penny.  Lenny Niemeyer is the designer for this swim label and she loves simplicity in her swimwear looks.  There is a cool sophistication about everything that she creates. Prices start in our store at $205, however, you can still pick up a 2011 Lenny swimsuit at starting at only $59.



~ C,

Reminiscing of Swimsuits Past

I started selling swimsuits in 1995. It came out of a need to expand my hat, sandal and novelty neck tie business. (Tropi-Ties was originally named after a cooling neck bandanna that I sold.) Swimwear seemed to be the perfect thing to add to my beachy offerings. After all, I felt that I knew a thing or two about bikinis, having grown up wearing one almost 24/7. Back then, if I wasn’t in the pool, I was at the beach and if I wasn’t in one of those places, then I certainly had my swimsuit on under my clothes, just in case an opportunity presented itself to get into the water.

Back in the early ‘90s, bikinis bottoms were cut very scoopy, or V-cut, in front and high on the thigh, with coverage not unlike a diaper in back. The only bikini tops were the simple triangle, or underwire bra. The prints were loud and the solids were neons. There were 2 major markets in the U.S.; “Surf” and “Raunch.” Some of my more savvy bikini shoppers wore the super sexy Brazilian bikinis, such as the "Tanga," the "Rio,"and the "Thong," but only if they were a runway model, or very daring. Even then, those swimsuits were probably too risqué for the American beaches and family reunions. Fabrics were limited to very shiny, 2-way Spandex, and 4-way stretch Lycra and occasionally crochet knits. At this point, the average swimsuit consumer in this country had never heard of Microfiber, or Polyamide textiles.

Then, came the Brazilians. Vix, Salinas and Desiree Nercessian lead the way into the next century and the mainstream American market with their teeny tiny bikini bottoms, elongated halter tops and embellishments galore. The fabrics that they used were a tad heavier than their American counterparts, with a soft, matte finish. The new style of bikini bottoms epitomized the phrase, “less is more,” with backsides that barely covered the bum. The front top lines were low, short and straight. The halter top became the one and only choice of style, but the imaginative things that these Brazilian designers did with it were endless. The ties became short, the straps thin, there were stones, sequins, beads, leather and buckles, as well as other new, exciting trims. Swimsuits truly became works of art.

Around 2005, as the economic recession began to take hold and the Y Generation started settling down to a life of child rearing and domesticity. Swimsuit sales slowed and what did sell was more conservative. The tiny Brazilian bikini gave way to a more moderate coverage swimsuit. The Cut-Out 1 piece gained popularity because it covered the tummy, but was still had some allure. New fabrics were employed and trims became more sophisticated. The higher-end, luxurious swimsuits represented investments for women who still had some change in their expensive, designer bags. It was the age where it was all about which celebrity was wearing which designer bikini.

By 2008, the Brazilians still had a strong stake in the American swimwear world, but they began to lose their stronghold on the market, with new labels emerging from other countries, such as Columbia, Australia, Great Britain and the USA. Zimmermann from Australia, Mara Hoffman from Europe, Maaji and Agua Bendita from Columbia gave us a fresh look at the bikini and one piece swimsuit. The bandeau bikini became the new fashion shape on the beach and cute 1 pieces that catered to a younger customer started to show up in the look books. Engineered prints were everywhere, Cover-ups and beach frocks became the rage.

Now at the end of 2010 season and with the unveiling of 2011 designs, we see a batch of new designers emerging. Once again, these mavericks are taking another look at the swimsuit and creating new shapes and styles for yet another generation of beachgoers and vacationers. We’ll be seeing a bevy of designer looks from Australia, such as Zimmermann and Kooey, next year and some labels from Brazil, including Cia.Maritima, Rosa Cha and Lenny that were overshadowed in the Vix/Salinas heydays. I expect the unexpected in 2011…new takes on old swimsuit standbys. How will they reinvent the wheel? What will they think of next? We shall see.



~ C.

Salinas Swimwear - We Still love it!

After all this time, I still love Salinas Swimwear.  Tropi-Ties began carrying the Salinas brand back in 1999.  We were the very first online retailers to stock their sweet, little bikinis.  I have to say, I wasn't really keen on carrying Salinas at first.  It seemed like it was just another one of many Brazilian bikini labels to have hit our shores during that time.  Shelly Scott, the rep for Salinas back then, politely and continually prodded me to stop by their booth at ASR.  One day I finally did.  I could not believe how cute the stuff was!  With lots of, "I told you so," comments coming from Shelly, I reviewed the line. There were unique bodies with loads of sex appeal, not to mention tiny bums, done up in fun colors and prints, with embroidery, sequins and other embellishments...just adorable!  I had not seen anything like it in the California surf market, or the entire US, for that matter.  The price point was great too.  Oddly enough, I was the only buyer in their booth that day.  It was hard to believe that the word had not yet gotten out about these fab Brazilian bikinis. Of course, that didn't last for long.  The following season the Salinas booth was twice the size and it was standing room only. 

Salinas quickly became our number one seller and really helped to build our own company.  It flew off the shelves as quickly as it came in.  Everyone, including our warehouse staff, could hardly wait to see the what the newest shipments revealed.  Every bikini was a surprise.  All of the people from Salinas were wonderful and business relationships were good and strong.  Salinas was now distributed everywhere in the US, including major department stores, surf shops and online retailers.

But then came the economy.  Although all of us have struggled through these rough times, Salinas took it especially hard.  Sales slackened, their trusted distribution faltered and a new generation of swimsuit buyers, none savvy to this iconic brand, emerged.  The flow of merchandise slowed to a crawl and it looked like the end for them.  I reluctantly continued to carry their bikinis, partly because I felt a sense of loyalty, partly out of hope that they would return to their former glory.  They toughed it out and kept the brand going.

As the economy comes out of this recession, we're now seeing a change for the better for Salinas.  The designs are fresh and sassy and with new US distributors, the merchandise flow is making headway again. Young women are rediscovering Salinas Swimwear and sales are coming back.  The new 2011 Salinas bikinis are cuter than ever and we expect strong sales for this brand next season. I am confident that they will make a full recovery and be back even better than ever.

~ C.