Aqua Di Lara Spring 2008
Written by Yvette N. Coleman

The talented Reyhan Sofraci shows her passion once again with a stylish collection of swimsuits in an array of comfortable, fashion forward signature looks for summer ‘08. Sofraci, a Montreal based designer is relatively new to the industry, but has made a strong name for herself with fashionistas and fashionable beach lovers! Formerly known as Aqualara, Aqua Di Lara proves to be a tough contender in the big world of swimwear.

Aqua Di Lara offers quality with the finest fabrics, attention to details, and superior fit. Designed with the intent of making women look their best, bottoms rest superbly on the hips and most cups are stitched with thin padding to provide a natural looking lift to the breasts, providing support for those with larger bust lines without forsaking style.

The Spring/Summer 2008 collection is divided into four separate themes, each one deriving its inspiration from a different source. The Pandora collection which is characterized by rich solids and unique lines was very much inspired by the heydays of 1940’s Hollywood glam. Many of the pieces from this collection have an evening-wear appeal and are accented with rhinestones and crystal accessories. The Pandora collection includes an original gorgeous square-cup monokini that has been receiving a lot of attention from the international fashion world.

The Etzu collection features vibrant lime and chocolate brown geometric pairings and takes its inspiration from urban architecture and street wear, whereas the Antonella line features soft and feminine styles in powder blue and was directly inspired by French corsetterie and the revival of Marie Antoinette era high-fashion. Inspired by European high-fashion lingerie, the Borelle collection is the most daring of the spring ‘08 line and includes sleek strappy monokinis with chunky gold and silver accessories and bikinis with removable straps.

Sofraci notes: “This season we are still keeping with the high-fashion look that Aqua Di Lara is best known for but have incorporated more variety in terms of colors and styles into the collection. One example is the introduction of more styles with underwire that create a completely different look and provide more support for bustier women.

And last but not least, Aqua Di Lara made it onto the pages of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition for the first time this year in a two page spread on supermodel Jeisa Chimanazzo. Being a relatively small company, this has been a breakthrough for us in terms of publicity and we are very excited about it!!”

Unlike some other brands, all of Sofraci’s swimsuits (including those with metallic or rhinestone accessories) are completely wearable both in and outside of the water.

The materials that go into Aqua Di Lara swimsuits are extremely high-quality and are designed to withstand chlorine, UV rays and salt water.

This means that a swimsuit that looks great on in the store will maintain its color and shape and will continue to look fabulous with use over time. Even Aqua Di Lara’s skimpiest styles are well constructed and provide excellent support for curvaceous women.

Sofraci points out: “Comfort and feel are as important to us as style and every swimsuit is designed and constructed with this in mind.”

What are the biggest trends in swimwear for spring ‘08?
The trend for 2008 will be more towards creating interesting lines on the body with rich solid colors than using busy prints on simple bikinis. Designers are distancing themselves from cabana-style floral patterns and using rich luxurious fabrics that are soft to the touch and comfortable on the skin in interesting shapes and styles. Glamour is the key word for spring ‘08 and you can look forward to women sporting sexy yet sophisticated monokinis with geometric cutouts and gem-like accessories. This year will be all about dressing up.

What trends are need to vanish?
We are seeing a lot more inventiveness in swimwear now that we ever did and I think that the typical string bikini is losing popularity as a result. The European influence in swimwear is growing and North American women are increasingly demanding more unique swimwear styles. I would love to finally see tankinis go the way of the telegraph and the horse-drawn buggy. There are more interesting ways of providing additional coverage such as cover ups and well constructed one-pieces. In my opinion tankinis are just tacky and should be wiped off the face of the earth.

Aqua Di Lara is rapidly expanding with the recent launch of a new contemporary swimwear line called Qiss Qiss. The new Qiss Qiss collection will feature a variety of fresh new looks of that will include everything from bikinis to cover-ups and cut-out one-pieces.

Aqua Di Lara swimsuits range between $200 and $400. The 2008 collection can be found in exclusive high-end boutiques throughout Canada, The United States, Western Europe, Dubai and the Dominican Republic. Aqua Di Lara is also available online through www.swimwearboutique.com and www.rivierarunway.com .

For more information on Aqua Di Lara please visit www.aquadilara.com