MSM: How do you feel about participating in the Mercedes-Benz Swim Fashion Week? It is always an unforgettable experience. We love going to Miami every season as it is the first time that we showcase our collection to the industry and to our customers. The people, the vibe the ambiance, it is all so amazing. We love working with the team there to put on one hell of a show! MSM: To showcase Aqua Di Lara’s 2013 S/S collection in Miami you teamed up with Maui Jim sunglasses, Isola footwear, Zoya Nail Polish and Swarovski Elements? Tell us a little bit about it. There has always been perfect brand synergy with all our sponsors, bringing our looks to life. We have worked with Maui Jim Sunglasses, Zoya Nail Polish, Swarovski Elements crystals, Cutler hairstylists and Make up Forever artists for the last two consecutive years. Maui Jim – a brand that has built a reputation for quality – really knows how to up their game each season with innovative styles made with their signature Polarized lenses. We really value how they work and their dedication. Their sunglasses and brand value truly complement our suits perfectly. Zoya nail polish really sets itself apart from other polish brands. They offer a gorgeous product in a huge palette of colors with new hues added each season. Their polish just glides so smoothly, dries so quickly and lasts! We love their nail polish and definitely keep a rainbow of colors in our bags everywhere we travel. Swarovski Elements is known to offer some of the most gorgeous crystal stones it the merket. Combining their stones with our eccentric designs truly creates that sought after one-of a kind jaw dropping swimsuit pieces. Cutler creates the most beautiful art with hair – this year we let them take the stand and do what they felt best matched our looks. They captured it beautifully with the up-do that showcased the detailing of the back of our suits. I was lucky to have them do my hair this year – Finally I had bouncy hair in the Miami heat! The Make Up Forever team is always so much fun! So talented and such a pleasure to work with. Their products and quality definitely feel like second skin. We love working with them every year. I had the pleasure of having my make up done by one of their lead stylists this year – no more dripping makeup in the heat – all I can say to them over and over was Thank you! We worked with Isola for the first time this year. We absolutely loved their shoes. I personally wore one pair on the runway and walked and danced in them all night long – so comfortable! I did not want to take them off! MSM: 2013’s collection embraces and enhances the classical hourglass silhouette, which is one of the brand’s trademarks. What are some of the comments and feedback you have received from doing this through the years? We have always shown praise to curvaceous women and I believe people have grown to appreciate this aspect of our brand. We always keep this in mind when we are designing ensuring that fit, construction and style can accentuate our positives and increase the confidence of these beautiful women. With the placement of lines and the play on colors and prints, we celebrate this idealized female form. MSM: There is a sense of sexy-elegance in your designs with Aqua Di Lara’s 2013 S/S collection with some nude paneling, flesh colored fabrics, cut-outs, and the specific locations of strips and straps. What inspires you? There is definitely a common thread that can be seen in our collection throughout the years. I have always been very inspired by lingerie, eveningwear and architecture. I love angles, beauty and drapes. We divided our collection into two categories this year – the Black and the White Label. As we have such a strong passion for the feminine and beautiful and also a love for bold and edgy designs, this gave us the chance to express both our passions. White label is inspired by an escape to Eden and the Black label is by the Ethereal Goddess. Prints and silhouettes can reflect these two categories. This year we decided to reinvent the one-piece. People love monokinis however there is always the concern of tan lines. So what we wanted to do is to bring in looks that provided the coverage however showcased a look that still captured that sex appeal. We achieved this by playing with the cuts and the nude paneling. MSM: The White Label collection is matched with an assortment of beautiful dresses and cover-ups. What did you envision when creating this pair? I absolutely adore the touch of silks. I love the way it caresses the skin and flows with the slight touch of the wind. We wanted to match our suits with an assortment of dresses and coverups that our loyal customers can wear over their suits and wear from day to night. We wanted to create something that looked like body paint and make a statement adorning the body with such beauty. Our prints are lush and colorful and cuts are comfortable and chic, it was a perfect addition to complete the Aqua Di Lara woman’s lifestyle. MSM: What is your favorite White Label design and Black Label design? Reyhan: My favorite from the White label is our Benecia dress offered in our lavish Amaranta green print. From the Black label my favorite is the Dania one piece that is comprised of linear contrast paneling and square neck line. MSM: The campaign was shot at the beautiful Aruba. Tell us a little about the experience. The island is one of the most beautiful I have ever seen. It has such a diverse landscape that each side of the land has a different gem to discover. The people are so kind and warm and
