A to Z of Brazilian Beachwear Collections for Women

Brazilian beachwear for women is famous the world over. Exports are an important part of the country's beachwear business, with adaptations such as larger bikini bottoms for clients in more conservative countries. Some outstanding beachwear brands export their products to Middle Eastern countries where bikinis are worn in special settings – private beaches, for example, as reported by Brazilian news magazine Época.

Coverage Issues

Female nakedness in Brazilian Carnival parades may give the impression that going topless is OK on every Brazilian beach. Not so. Unless you are on one of Brazil's nude beaches, going topless – something still mostly initiated by foreign tourists – is considered a misdemeanor. On a few beaches popular among Europeans, a laissez-faire approach is said to take place when sunbathers stay away from the crowds, but I can't confirm that personally.

What usually happens in Brazil, and is sometimes pointed out by topless advocates in the media as a hypocrisy, is that women's beachwear has optimized exposure while remaining technically legal. Beachwear collections nowadays, however, tend to include pieces that provide reasonable coverage while retaining the Brazil flair expected from the pros. Still, the best a visitor can do to count on a more conservative fit is make sure she packs her own swimwear before leaving home. It's also important to note that tall and extra large fits are not easy to find in Brazil.

Rio Beginnings

Like many other beach trends, the establishment of a specialized beachwear business started in Rio. Brazilian beach fashion pioneer Cid Pereira (a.k.a. Cidinho) holds what seems to be an undisputed claim to being the first to get bikinis out of their low-profile baskets in women's clothing boutiques and show them off on hangers as the stars of a specialized store, back in the late 1970s. Today, his company Bumbum (pronounced "boom-boom", meaning "buttocks") still sells exclusively in retail.

Online Brazilian Beachwear Collections

Stay up to date on the Brazilian beach fashion scene by browsing the newest collections on the designer websites listed below. On this list, you will find Brazil's most famous brands and, like on the country's beaches, pieces ranging from haute couture to more affordable designs. A few of these companies work with beachwear for men and children or with other lines of clothing, but most focus on beachwear for women.

Only one of these websites features a catalog with prices: Brazilian top model and TV host Ana Hickman's collection, because that's the only way it's featured online. To find out where to buy the items on websites that don't offer the English option, click on "Lojas", "Onde Comprar", "Onde Encontrar" or even "Contatos" (Stores, Where to buy, Where to find and Contacts respectively). Some brands don't have their own stores. You can e-mail them to find out where they place their products.

• Adriana Degreas - www.adrianadegreas.com.br
• Água de Coco
• Ana Hickman Vacanze (Buy Direct only)
• Apnéia
• Banco de Areia
• Blue Man
• Bumbum
• By Dina Maia
• Cia. Marítima
• Enseada
• Jangada Biquinis
• Jo de Mer
• Ki-Korpo
• Kitanga
• Lenny
• Magia do Mar
• Manga Rosa
• Mar Rio
• Master Sun
• Miquelina
• Nut
• Opa Locka
• Pokopano
• Praia Brasil
• Rosa Chá
• Rygy
• Salgar
• Salinas
• Salsa
• Sombra e Água Fresca
• Triya