Today we’d like to introduce you to Federico Uribe.
Federico, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Fashion has always been something close to my heart. My family has been involved in the textile industry for over 70 years, I naturally grew up with fashion around me. One day using a vacation in Chile, I was sitting at a beautifully set table for a lunch, on the windy pacific coastline and then it hit me- there was no appropriate dress for men at this very setting. Some were coming back from swimming in the ocean and would wrap themselves in a t-shirt and a towel, others took out the hotel bathrobes. I thought that using terry towel to tailor a beautifully crafted blazer (which we coined The Beach Blazer) was a market gap that needed to be filled. I then began making a series of prototypes which I tested out in public. The response was positive and 209 Mare was born.
Has it been a smooth road?
There are always struggles in every startup. We had a difficult time finding the right suppliers and manufacturers, but ultimately after a year and a half of trial and error and 30 thousand miles driven through Italy, we found the right ones. Most challenging however is educating the consumer on a new product that they have never seen before.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the 209 MARE story. Tell us more about the business.
We specialize in luxury beachwear. We are known as the brand that pioneered terry towel blazers. All our designs are inspired in the retro 70s era of the French Riviera. Our proudest moment was when we presented our 2020 collection at last year’s New York Fashion Week, at our own runway show in lower Manhattan in front of 1500 guests. What sets us apart is that we the question “why” and not “what” before developing any product. Also, our design code is such that we avoid harsh corners or edges on all of our garments, meaning they naturally flow with the shape of the body. We make a huge effort to soften all the edges on all our garments and this is usually a lot more difficult to do than cutting in a straight line. This is something I am very adamant about.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Swimwear, leisurewear and loungewear are the fastest-growing segments of fashion today. People don’t just want to be comfortable, they also want to make a fashion statement whilst doing so. This is why these segments of the industry are growing so much. Formalwear is less and less required, working from home has become a norm and wearing elegant lounge and beachwear throughout the day is becoming more and more common.
Pricing:
- Our Swim Shorts start at 170 USD
- Our toweling blazers start at 360 USD
- Our leisurewear starts at 70 USD
Contact Info:
- Website: www.209mare.com
- Email: 209mare@209mare.com
- Instagram: @209mare
Image Credit:
All images should be credited to 209 MARE
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