Agua Bendita

Agua Bendita is a Colombian swimwear and resortwear brand founded in 2003 by Catalina Álvarez and Mariana Hinestroza. It makes swimwear, ready-to-wear, accessories, menswear and kidswear known for illustrated prints and handmade embroidery.

What is Agua Bendita?

Agua Bendita is a Colombian fashion label best known for swimwear and resortwear with bold, colourful prints. It was created by two best friends, Catalina Álvarez and Mariana Hinestroza, who combined their passions for fashion and design.

History

The founders began in 2003 by making bathing suits for friends and family. In 2007 the company became one of the first Colombian businesses to export local fashion. It went on to build a network of thirty stores across Colombia, and the label is now sold in more than fifty countries.

Products and positioning

Swimwear remains the core of the offer, alongside ready-to-wear clothing, accessories and dedicated lines for men and children. The brand's identity rests on craftsmanship:

• Prints are illustrated in-house, with a single drawing taking more than a day before it is digitised and printed onto fabric.
• Embroidered details are made by hand by Colombian women artisans, whom the brand calls "ABhearts".
• The founders mix their own colours to give each piece a distinctive look.

Why it matters

Agua Bendita is an example of a Latin American brand that has built international distribution around artisan handwork. Its model of working with home-based artisans, who are supported in setting up their own businesses, ties the product story directly to the communities that make it.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Agua Bendita from?

Agua Bendita is from Colombia. It began in 2003 and became one of the first Colombian fashion companies to export in 2007.

Who founded Agua Bendita?

Agua Bendita was founded by best friends Catalina Álvarez and Mariana Hinestroza, who started by making bathing suits for friends and family.

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