At Know?Show in Vancouver, I ran into sales veteran Kelly Ellingson, who is now leading North American sales for a new brand called Maaji.
Maaji was started in Columbia by two sisters in 2002, who still run the business day-to-day. The brand is fairly new to North America.
The suits are two-ply Lycra and made in Columbia, not China. The suits, with fanciful fabrics, are “unique pieces of art, with a handcrafted feel,” Kelly said.
Model Brooklynn Nelsen and Jennifer Rainnie, who sells Maaji in Canada.The colorful prints are reminiscent of an Anthropologie aesthetic.
Each year, Maaji creates an elaborate story to inspire the design vision, and in 2012, the theme is underwater conquest.
The tops and bottoms are both reversible. Prices are $120 for a set, but all are sold separately.
South American brands tend to have the sexier cuts, and to appeal to the American market, Maaji has expanded the number of its bottom cuts to four.
Retailers that are selling the brand or have placed orders include Hobie, American Rag, Maui Girl, Splash in Hawaii, Nic Del Mar in Miami, Orchid Boutique, San Lorenzo in Hawaii, Molly Brown, Diane’s Beachwear and The Shore in Sarasota.
Kelly said the folks at Splash in Hawaii told her they sold 12 sets straight out of the box before they even had a chance to unpack it.
Tandi South, formerly of Reef and Raj Manufacturing, is handling West Coast sales for Maaji, Jennifer Rainnie of Rainnie Marketing is handling Canada, Anita Hopkins formerly with Roxy and Raj is handling the Northeast and Bill Miller is selling the line in Southeast.
“We are really blessed to have such a strong team,” Kelly said.
Maaji is flying Kelly, Tandi, Jennifer and some retail buyers to Columbia Saturday for a week to experience the country and the culture and to see the brand at Fashion Week there.
Maaji has also introduced a lingerie line and a kids swim line for sizes 2 to 16.
See our slide show, above, for photos of more Maaji styles.
