Source: Manila Standard Today
Brazilians are known to be free-spirited and creative. The spectacular floats of the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro are the ultimate expressions of Brazilians’ zest for life. The Carnival may trace its origins to Europe but the color and pageantry are very Brazilian.
Patxi Elizalde, managing director of Elro Corp., exclusive distributor of Ipanema footwear in the Philippines, explains that Ipanema’s newest Gisele Bundchen collection called Hot Sands truly reflects the nature of the people of Brazil, where the brand originates.
“The collection embodies the best of Brazil and its locals: warmth, optimism and great joy in living, a country that keeps its eyes on the future and always reinvents itself. This carefree and joyous lifestyle is the inspiration behind the collection—each piece celebrates the beauty of nature, making it the footwear to complement the sunny season of summer,” says Elizalde during the collection’s launch recently at SM Megamall’s Prestige Lounge.
The launch saw Ipanema showcasing a summery array of nature-themed sandals in a fashion show featuring models in clothes by Coco Cabana wearing pieces from the Hot Sands collection.
The sandals, which carry the collection’s trademark bow, come in colors like white, purple lilac, brown gold, black and silver, which would all look hot and stylish on the beach.
The Ipanema Gisele Bündchen collection also continues to support ISA, the Socio-environmental Institute’s Fight against Climate Change Central Strategy.
Every year, Ipanema comes up with a Gisele Bundchen collection inspired by the beautiful Brazilian supermodel who is also the wife of American football player Tom Brady and mother of a boy named Benjamin.
Next to rubber flip flops is probably Brazil’s biggest export. She is famous for her sun-kissed skin and signature wavy locks. She was discovered when she was only 14 years old in a São Paulo McDonald’s. Three years later, she became a Victoria‘s Secret angel and racked up multiple magazine covers.
Since her marriage and the birth of her son, Bundchen has not been very active in the modeling scene but she is still considered a top model and endorser. She is credited with ending the “heroin chic” look for models and has been lauded for promoting a healthier and more normal-looking body. She once topped the Forbes list of world’s richest models.
Bundchen is also goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Environment Programme. According to Wikipedia, she advocates protecting the Brazilian Atlantic Forest and Amazon Rainforest water sources, donating to this cause a percentage of profits from her line of Ipanema sandals and also helps projects such as Nascentes do Brasil, ISA, Y Ikatu Xingu and De Olho nos Mananciais.
“Bündchen and Grendene, the company that produces and disseminates her line of sandals, also joined the Florestas do Futuro project for the reforestation of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. The project was created by the NGO named SOS Atlantic Forest in 2004. The new forest, named for Grendene - Gisele Bündchen, started with 25,500 shoots of 100 different species, enough to revitalize an area of 15 hectares,” Wikipedia adds.
The Hot Sands collection is available at SM Department Stores, Bambu and leading boutiques and stores nationwide. Present your SM Advantage Card or Prestige Card at SM Department Stores this March and get 10 percent off if you are buying from the collection.