On having customers that know their worth

“The Adriana Degreas woman is not only empowered and independent with a strong personality, she also enjoys her own beauty.”

On the patriotic importance of sustainability

“We have an environmental responsibility to our country, Brazil, which has such natural beauty with its rivers and rainforests. And this environmental responsibility is shared by our entire supply chain.”

On her reluctance to engage in greenwashing

“Our brand's core business is lycra, which is a very polluting fibre and not “safe” to speak about in terms of sustainability, so we focus more on the social element of sustainability and other ways of making a difference.”

On combating overproduction

“We only produce pieces on a made-to-order scale and work closely with our wholesale customers and planning team to avoid having unsold stock. Overproduction is one of the biggest issues within the global fashion chain, so we focus on timeless high quality pieces that can be worn forever and passed from mother to daughter, keeping distance from the concept of fast fashion.”

On choosing the right suppliers

“We work with one of the biggest silk suppliers in Brazil, precisely because they have strong sustainable values. All of their chemicals and effluent are treated with purifiers that filter the gases, depolluting them and guaranteeing the quality of the air. Their boiler, which supplies the steam for production, is fed with certified biomass. In 2019, they started to consume energy from renewable sources such as wind and solar power. The dyes used are OEKO-TEX® and Azo-Free certified, biodegradable and water soluble."

On not being trend-led

“I do not follow trends to create my collections as my process is very intuitive, but each season I like to bring something new to the fold. I am very curious about discovering new techniques and fabrics to bring to beachwear.”

On her main source of inspiration

“I get inspiration from my Brazilian roots and Brazilian geography, as well as great Brazilian artists of all mediums from the modernist and constructivist periods.”

On what distinguishes Adriana Degreas from its peers

“We abandon established standards to create something unique. Many of our pieces go beyond the beachwear category and are also fashion objects. Our main goal is to transport beachwear to various situations.”

On her desired legacy

“The brand's legacy is to provide self-esteem, through respect for your own body so that you really feel really empowered.When we create and develop a piece, there are all these feelings and senses involved – including this concept of self-esteem.”

On why she prefers swimsuits to bikinits

Swimsuits and bikinis provide plenty of exposure to the body. The swimsuit is one of our hero styles, precisely because of our philosophy to not necessarily “hide” something, but to use it as a means of empowerment. Today, this sense of power is stronger when wearing a swimsuit than a bikini. With a well-cut swimsuit in a minimal colour palette, there is a sense of purity and timelessness, which, to me, generates empowerment.”