Lisa Lozano Swimwear: Back From a Break
For seven years, Los Angeles–based swimwear designer Lisa Lozano had a successful line of teeny-weeny bikinis that sold at small boutiques and high-end department stores.
But in 2005, she took a break from her TNA swim company to have a daughter, Tatiana, and move to New York, where her husband works.
Now she’s back with a new line, called Lisa Lozano Swimwear, and a new business model. She designs the line, but all the manufacturing, sales and distribution are left to Marpessa Inc., a Brazilian company that also distributes Brazil-based Salinas swimwear in the United States.
“I kept in touch with a lot of my reps and retailers, who encouraged me to come back,” said Lozano from her Long Island home in the Hamptons.
“And I thought I was only going to come back if it was the perfect situation. My main job is being a mom.”
Lozano found the perfect situation with Marpessa. She had known the company’s owner, Paola Incisa, for years. After some talk, the two put together a deal where Lozano licenses her name to Marpessa, designs the line and leaves the rest of the business details to Marpessa. Production is done in Brazil. “This way, 100 percent of my focus is on the brand,” said Lozano, who graduated with a fine-arts degree from the University of Southern California.
Lozano drew her inspiration for her new line from her past collections, retaining that same teeny-weeny bikini silhouette. Bikini bottoms have belted bottoms and classic tie sides. Tops include halter silhouettes and crisscross shapes. Colors veer toward a bright palette with eye-popping yellows, raspberries, purples and blues.
Everything is fairly clean and simple except for the zebra print that comes in brown or pink. Wholesale prices range from $45 to $55. So far, Barneys New York; Molly Brown’s Swimwear in Newport Beach, Calif.; and Diane’s Swimwear, a California-based chain, have picked up the collection.
For more information, call (858) 259-3520, Ext. 301, or visit www.lisalozanoswim.com. —Deborah Belgum
