Calarena
Calarena is a high end women's beachwear brand from Corsica, France, founded in 2004 under the name CariocaCollection. It makes swimwear and beachwear inspired by the Corsican way of life.
| Founded | 2004 |
|---|---|
| Origin | Corsica, France |
| Former name | CariocaCollection |
| Name origin | A cove in Porto-Vecchio |
| Website | calarena.com |
What is Calarena?
Calarena is a French women's beachwear label from Corsica. It was launched in 2004 by three Corsicans, among them co-founder and manager Marie-Luce de Rocca Serra, and takes its inspiration from the Corsican art de vivre.
History
The brand was originally called CariocaCollection. For spring summer 2017 it adopted the name Calarena, taken from a cove in Porto-Vecchio, and presented the new identity at the Mode City trade show. The change reflected the brand's high end positioning and European manufacturing, which sat uneasily with the Brazilian connotation of the old name.
Products and positioning
Calarena designs swimwear and beachwear for women, positioned at the upper end of the market.
Distribution
The brand operates a franchise boutique in Saint-Tropez and company owned multi brand stores in Corsica. It also sells through a wholesale network of around 100 resellers in France and around 50 abroad, and has targeted growth in export markets.
Why it matters
Calarena is an example of a regional French label building a beachwear brand around a sense of place, combining its own Mediterranean boutiques with a broad wholesale network.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Calarena from?
Calarena is a women's beachwear brand from Corsica, France.
What was Calarena called before?
The brand was called CariocaCollection until it became Calarena for spring summer 2017.