Boston Common - Niche Media - A side of Boston that's anything but common.
Issue link: http://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/327657
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOEL BENJAMIN A djusting to the subzero climes of the Northeast challenges even the toughest of Boston transplants, but Brazilian-born designer Sinesia Karol still sees parallels with her homeland. "Although Boston is often cold, it has everything: amazing landscapes, beaches, and islands," Karol says. You know, just like Brazil. The swimwear designer, who grew up in the beach town of Vitoria, had always harbored a passion for fashion, although it was chemistry she stud- ied before moving to Boston in 1989. Yet growing up with a mother who handmade all of the family's clothing and having a predilection for art, music, and architecture herself made Karol realize that her true calling lay in design—especially slinky swimwear. "I wanted to create something for my friends and me to wear to our favorite getaway spots," she says. Karol's eponymous swimwear line ref lects both her heritage and her com- mitment to beauty: Brazilian artist Ana Paula Castro designs all of the fabric art, and Karol sources top-of-the-line Lycra, chiffon, and silk for her pieces. "Some of the materials are so luxe you can't even feel them touching your skin when you wear them. That's quite a liberating feeling for swimwear," she says. For the Spring/Summer line, Karol again drew inspiration from her place of birth. "My current collection features the birds of Brazil," she shares. "We have so much f lora and fauna there that it could inspire me for a lifetime!" Bostonians seem inspired by Karol's beachfront call to action. "People might think Boston is an odd place to launch a swimwear line, but you would be surprised at the amount of support I received from the commu- nity," she says. And though the brand is only two years old, Karol's swimwear has already been spotted on Brazilian celebs Sabrina Sato and Carol Castro, and Victoria's Secret model Izabel Goulart. "Word of mouth, customer service, and great quality are what made my business successful." The Tannery, 711 Boylston St., 617-267-5500; thetannery.com BC The Heat Is On SINESIA KAROL TURNS UP THE SIZZLE FACTOR IN BOSTON WITH HER BRAZILINSPIRED SWIMWEAR COLLECTION. BY JULIET IZON STYLE SETTER " Some of the materials are so luxe you can't even feel them touching your skin." SINESIA KAROL FROM LEFT: Marly swimsuit ($352); a mood board in Karol's studio; Cigana Mousseline dress ($352). BOSTONCOMMON-MAGAZINE.COM 79 reasures