São Paulo – Brazilian top model and businesswoman Ana Gequelin, who has an eponymous female beachwear brand, created her last collection inspired on Morocco, an Arab country in North Africa, and plans to export to the region. “I am passionate about the Arab culture, especially for the Islamic Art and arabesques. Morocco was my inspiration for the current collection; the millenarian prints, colours and textures enchanted me and brought me closer to that country of such special people. I would certainly like to take my collection there,” said Gequelin in an email interview to ANBA.
The model travelled to Morocco last month. “To celebrate my birthday and see what inspired me and what I studied for months for the creation of the collection,” stated Gequelin. It was her first time in the Arab country. “But I was always much involved and passionate for culture, people and art. Music enchants and calms me,” said the businesswoman.
The Ana Gequelin brand is very popular at famous beaches worldwide, like Ibiza, in Spain, and Punta del Este, in Uruguay, where the items are exported. The brand was established in 2011 and sales to Uruguay started last year. Exports to Spain began this year. They currently represent 20% of production, according to the top model. Despite not disclosing the production volume, Gequelin stated that she plans to raise the foreign market’s participation to 50% of the collection in three years. She already has plans for sales in California and Florida, in the United States.
The brand has its main office in São Paulo and outsourced production. The items are turned to sensual contemporary women. They range from bikinis, bathing suits and silk sarongs to leather and hay products. The collection is designed by Gequelin herself together with stylist Giovanna Hamajji. The material used is 100% Brazilian, with fabric and sophisticated accessories, use of texture, embroidery and prints with a vibrant colour schemes. The products are sold to 20 multi-brand shops in Brazil.
Despite her modelling career, Ana Gequelin has shown a talent for the fashion business from an early age. Born in Campo Largo, in the interior of the southern Brazilian state of Paraná, when still a child she made silk dolls and sold them to friends and relatives. “Ever since I was a child, I liked creating handicraft and embroidery. I felt great pleasure in developing artistic work. Fashion was always a passion and I ended up setting up a shop that was a meeting point for friends, a place to have fun and shop,” said the entrepreneur, who opened a shop in Campo Largo at age 19.
Gequelin’s modelling career arose in her adolescence, after participating in beauty contests in her city and being selected in competition Elite Model Look. Her being chosen opened doors to her career in international fashion capitals like Milan, Tokyo, Paris and New York. After that, her career took off and she worked on global campaigns like those for the Gillette, Reef, Garnier Fructis, Yamamay, Colgate, Nexxus Seda, Lux and Tresemme brands. She was also the exclusive Triumph International model in Europe for four years.
