California Apparel News

San Diego-based swimwear maker Studio Italia is diving into ready-to-wear with a new collection, Studio Italia Ready-To-Wear/Fall 2003.

“Usually, it works the other way around—high-end designers create swimwear to complement their sportswear collections,” said Studio Italia co-founder and designer Christina Andrade Brenner, who started the company two years ago with her husband, Anthony Brenner.

In this case, however, Studio Italia’s Europeanmade swim line inspired the designer to create a contemporary sportswear collection, said Andrade Brenner.

“Even though swimwear is our core category, I kept thinking about ways of combining classic Italian styles with modern European looks,” she said.

Currently, the company produces two swim lines: branded swimwear for Barely Brook (which can be seen in this year’s Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition) and its own sophisticated line of contemporary swimwear, Studio Italia.

Adding ready-to-wear to the mix is part of the company’s effort to create an Italian lifestyle brand, said Andrade Brenner.

“Studio Italia has evolved around the true Italian lifestyle of fashion,” she said. “The concept behind the collection is to emphasize style, confidence and everyday sophisticated lifestyle.”

Studio Italia Ready-To-Wear/Fall 2003 includes plenty of Euro-chic styles in sizes 2–12. Brushed denim pants with cargo pockets and a matching hooded vest, boot-cut trousers with shredded deconstruction details, and an espresso- colored French-cuff jacket with silk Jacquard lining are among the collection’s offerings.

The ready-to-wear line comes in a palette of pink, chocolate, cream, burgundy, peach and olive—shades inspired by Andrade Brenner’s recent trip to Europe to source fabrics for the collection.

Andrade Brenner said visions of Prada’s secondary line, Miu Miu, and Max Mara came to mind as she designed the collection. The line is geared toward modern women who have a definitive fashion style, she said.

Studio Italia called on the expertise of a little-known Italian manufacturer—which also works with designers Prada, Gucci and Jil Sanders—to produce its sportswear.

“Manufacturing the line in Italy is the only way we can establish the lifestyle and collaborate with the tools of Italy,” said Andrade Brenner.

Studio Italia’s ready-to-wear collection is geared toward better retailers and specialty boutiques. Andrade Brenner said buyers from retailers such as Saks and Neiman Marcus have shown strong interest in the line. Wholesale price points range from $59 for a silk blouse to $175 for a twill button-up jacket. Initial delivery dates will begin Aug. 30.

Studio Italia Ready-To-Wear/Fall 2003 will debut April 2–8, during Los Angeles Market Week, at the Pamela Carone Showroom in suite 1009 of the California Market Center.

For more information, call (858) 456-0626. —Claudia Figueroa