Ocimar Versolato's work entices clients not only because of his unique creations but now because his own line of fragrances and cosmetic products. For the longest time, the major couturiers were all designers who hailed from countries where there was a long history of fashion. In the 1990s, being from Brazil would make you stand out in this crowd. But having that exotic touch certainly did not hurt Ocimar Versolato any. On the contrary: he took indulgent Paris and its high fashion standards by storm, receiving numerous international awards along the way. And then he struck out on his own path — back to Brazil.
Bewitching and Brazilian
Ocimar Versolato is a designer, craftsman, businessman and, of course, a Brazilian. His roots are in his mother's dressmaking shop in Sao Paulo. He was trained in Paris, where he made a name for himself, but he has remained true to his background, even amidst all of his international successes. Has his home country shaped him and his creations? Of course it has. The open-heartedness of the people, their joie de vivre and above all the seductive air of everyday life there influenced him and are reflected in his fashion. His pieces are both modern and sensuous, both precious and pricey — it enthralls you with exceptional materials and figure-enhancing silhouettes, intended for women who want to flaunt their curves and wear the perfect clothes to match.
Symrise put some of its finest talents to work on the project. Bertrand Duchaufour's created sensuous WENGESAN, the compelling VERITABLE and the enigmatic RICHE. Fashions that express longing
According to Ocimar Versolato, a couturier is not an artist — after all, when is a true artist ever forced to present a collection of brand-new creative impulses twice a year? Instead, Versolato defines himself as a craftsman with a special sensitivity, someone who perceives undercurrents in society and interprets them in his creations. This may be the secret to his clothes and his success: they give an unmistakable voice to unarticulated wishes and longing. As a couturier, he finds it indispensible to be able to interact directly with his clients when tailoring his garments to their figures, and his clothes are pure sensuality in textile form. This sort of individualism has its price, one which is beyond the reach of many people. But even those who cannot afford his fashion, says Ocimar Versolato, can still use it as a source of inspiration. His newest compositions will make his art far more accessible to many more women — and men — than ever before.
Beauty-enhancing cosmetics
After two years of development work, Ocimar Versolato Cosmetics is now being released as a line of premium beauty products for women and men. It includes over 1000 choices: around 100 tones of foundation, 100 different eye shadows, 87 shades of lipstick, powder compacts, concealers, rouge – anything that makes people look more beautiful. His products are distributed through a franchise system. Three of the shops were already geared up for business before the brand was even ready to be launched; correspondingly, Versolato decided to use these shops as test markets. A total of twelve additional stores are scheduled to open in 2009, and in the upcoming six to seven years, there are to be up to 220. The name Ocimar Versolato stands for success.
Strict guidelines for the new fragrances: they had to be cosmopolitan, romantic and unisex, and they were not to be reminiscent of anything that was already on the market. Up close and personal
The new product portfolio would not be complete without perfumes, however. A total of thirteen fragrances are now available. The world's finest perfumers contributed to them, and they were given strict guidelines: the fragrances had to be cosmopolitan, romantic and unisex, and they were not to be reminiscent of anything that was already on the market. Fragrance manufacturer Firmenich created SUCCESS FOU and FOR ME and joined forces with perfumer Alberto Morillas to compose S.E.X.I, LUXO and ILLIMITÉ. Symrise put some of its finest talents to work on the project. Bertrand Duchaufour's created sensuous WENGESAN, the compelling VERITABLE and the enigmatic RICHE. GORGEOUS is Duchaufour's vision in fragrance form, a garden over the clouds, while MAGIC TOUCH is his interpretation of a Claude Monet painting. Florence Idier made NOUVEAU and Philippe Roques composed NIGHTS, and the Symrise Studios fragrance NEW VETIVER was featured as well. An aphrodisiac touch can be felt in all of the scents, which is how it ought to be: in Versolato's words, being sensuous is part of our lives; life itself is a constant process of seduction, and perfume should be more than just part of this seduction. And now fans of Ocimar Versolato can see this for themselves. Even if Ocimar's haute couture is out of reach, his perfumes let us experience his artistry, up close and personal.
The name Ocimar Versolato stands for success
Ocimar Versolato: a Brazilian of Italian descent, born in 1961 near Sao Paulo. He first came into contact with fashion in his mother's dressmaking shop, which eventually became a small studio that supported Ocimar and his five brothers and sisters after their father died. Since it was not possible to study fashion design in Brazil at the time, Versolato started studying architecture but soon turned to fashion and went freelance with his handmade accessories. After encountering Marie Rucki, the head of the prestigious Paris fashion school Studio Bercot, he moved to Paris and finished his training there. Following that he spent four years with designer Hervé Léger and launched his first luxury line in 1993. Aided by his friends and a budget of 3000 francs, Versolato held his first show and then worked as the head couturier at Lanvin for four years, where he made jeans popular, among other things. In 1998 he opened his own atelier and released his first haute couture collection.