Skies in lower Manhattan may have been cold and gray on Tuesday. Still, things were heating up on the rooftop of Hotel Gansevoort, thanks to a new collaboration between Vix Swimwear and Bianca Brandolini, oozing with classy Brazilian sex appeal.
The duo, along with Moda Operandi, brought together friends, influencers and fans such as Lauren Santo Domingo, Francisco Costa, Aerin Lauder, Derek Blasberg, Adam Lippes, Eugenie Niarchos, Vladimir Restoin, Natalie Lim Suarez, Dylana Lim Suarez and Ivy Getty. for a Rio de Janeiro-inspired midday party to celebrate the partnership. FashionNetwork.com spoke to Vix founder Paula Hermanny and Venetian Brazilian French model and socialite about the female-led alliance.
The capsule collection features a wide range of beachwear, including 14 swimsuit options, four cover-ups and 16 versatile items such as dresses, tops, skirts and a jumpsuit designed to enhance a resort wardrobe. It will be sold exclusively for one month on Moda Operandi before opening to other Vix distribution channels, such as Vix stores, its online site and various retail accounts.
Taking a break from the festive event space, where a samba band Guests were serenaded by sipping coconut water with fresh coconuts and branded mojitos while enjoying Brazilian delicacies and chocolate, who received custom embroidered scarves on the spot; Hermanny sat near the pool, marked with the association's name, to discuss the association.
“This was the first time we co-designed a collection. In the past, we collaborated with resorts like Aman and Nikki Beach Clubs, but Vix designed it,” said Hermanny, adding: “I wanted to work with someone who was already a client and we saw that “Bianca had been a fan of the brand for more than ten years. We saw her posts, but we didn't know each other, however, she has the same lifestyle as the brand,” he added.
Brandolini's mother is Brazilian; Her father is Italian and spends time in Rio. She has an apartment in Ipanema and Vix has a store there, according to Hermanny. (In total, there are 22 stores in Brazil, and the brand is based between San Diego and Rio de Janeiro and has approximately 800 employees.)
Hermanny said Brandolini immediately said yes, and after a dinner in September, two visits to Brazil between November and January and several online meetings, a collection was born.
“It was a natural process, she already likes the brand and just wanted to work with us. She participated in choosing colors and fabrics and went to the archive to choose things she liked to help design the collection,” Hermanny explained.
Vix is known for its gold-plated hardware, embroidery, unique cuts, fabrics, matching resort wear, and swimwear-focused accessories.
“She picked out everything she liked and put it together; Bianca was also very focused on the fit,” he added.
In fact, Brandolini told FashionNetwork.com that he seriously considered different types of cuts to suit all bodies.
“I stick to what I like, but I try to think about all the different body shapes; we have bikinis from Brazilian bottoms with little coverage to fuller high-waisted bottoms, but also the same for the top; I don't have much chest, but we have things for the more gifted girls, you can also mix and match tops and bottoms, which is nice,” Brandolini said.
She had dabbled in swimwear nearly a decade ago when she collaborated with Osklen, including swimwear and resort wear.
It's a natural choice for Brandolini, who never met a beach or sun he didn't like, with a lifestyle to back it up.
“My idea is to go to the beach in a swimsuit in the morning. Then maybe I'll go to lunch, so I decide to put on a shirt, and then you spend the day outside, and then you decide to go for a snack, you add the skirt; everything is in your bag as you go,” he said.
Rumors surrounding the collection will fuel Vix's ambitions with retail expansion in the U.S. They currently have one U.S. store in Coral Gables, Florida, but plan to open several in the next year. Although Los Angeles and New York are on the list, Hermanny is also focused on further expansion in the Sunshine State.
“We want to open more in Florida. It's the lifestyle there; it's year-round and the weather is good. Maybe in the Miami Design District or Tampa and a few more in the state,” he said. “We also just opened our first international store outside of Brazil and the United States in St. Tropez this summer; we'll see how it goes,” she continued.
Hermanny's focus on women working together expands beyond this latest initiative. Two years ago, she launched Casa Vix, a vocational training program to improve the lives of women in her Brazilian community so that they become more seamstresses, a move inspired by her grandmothers, who were seamstresses and a model. Preserving local skills and craftsmanship has been a boost in the industry, especially since the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We have 500 workers in Brazil and we are offering training for women [though anyone can apply] where we teach them how to sew swimsuits, embroider or make hardware by hand, but also how to make a resume, interview for jobs or open a small business. So far, the program has graduated 72 women; We employ some of them and others start their own things,” Hermanny explained.
As summer has just begun in the northern hemisphere, there will be plenty of opportunities to show off Vix's offerings. Brandolini is preparing to spend his time on the Greek islands.
“I love Italy, of course, but in Greece I go to small remote islands; there are so many of them. The sea is a dream and very cool. Italy is the best, but in summer it is crowded, so I would like to go in September or October,” he said.
In both cases he will show off his new collection in various places around the world. But no matter where they are, Vix stays true to their roots, with plenty of tiny styles.
“It's a very Brazilian brand,” Hermanny said.
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