It is the quintessential Florida December morning, think warm, bright and summer for anyone above the Georgia border.  The white sand of the beach at the end of 13^th Ave South in Naples is reflecting the sun back up into the morning air with the nonchalance befitting an heiress haunting the shops just a stone’s throw from where I stand.  It’s a perfect morning to showcase the 2013 Ocean de Luxe swimwear line, because this is where it belongs.  It’s a fitting metaphor; a Sunday morning, the new week, a bright sunrise to illuminate the most recent offering from a rising designer deserving of the spotlight, and getting it through patience, perseverance and a little luck.  This is a true Horatio Alger “American Dream” story.  The foreign born daughter of immigrant parents comes to the United States from South America and builds herself up and creates something from nothing.  Flirting with success trying to take that next step up in the business world through sheer will Angela Hernandez is nothing if not driven and ready to take the world head on, and at full speed.

The suits for the 2013 line are vibrant; encompassing the rainbow, and more.  The offerings range from super colorful patterns to solid white and neon orange and electric pink,  we shoot them one right after the other, enlisting the help of owner/designer Angela Hernandez’ younger sister to assist in modeling the new line in the warm December morning sun.  The use of avian inspired patterns is something that lets the colors spring from tops and allows for a wide use of colors with accents of rhinestone to make the whole piece shimmer.  The fringe of the “Edge” design gives the piece a movement that draws the eye to the suit and makes it stand out on a beach populated with boring bikinis and old fashion one-pieces.  This is par for the course when you look at the 2013 offerings, as well as past lines from Ocean de Luxe, imagination and innovation with something as simple as the bikini.

The 27 year old owner/designer and spokesmodel is just getting started.  She has a vision that includes the very boutiques on “5^th” here in Naples, as a step, on that path, to attaining her ultimate goal.  After the short meeting and shoot on the beach we make our way to Altin Café and Grill to have breakfast, and talk about that vision.  As a seven year veteran of the fashion industry, in front of the camera, Ms. Hernandez always came away disappointed at the offerings available when it came to swimwear, so she decided to take matters into her own hands, and a company was born.   Ocean de Luxe swimwear is that company, a place where owner and designer Angela Hernandez can take her vision and make it a reality.

Started in the spring of 2011 Ms. Hernandez’ Ocean de Luxe Swimwear has really started coming into its own, as a boutique fashion label that commands notice, and is deservedly receiving that recognition.  In the two short years since its inception Ocean de Luxe has become the official swimsuit of the Miss Munda Latina beauty pageant, last April it received the award for “Best Swimwear Designer of the Year” at the Orlando fashion week, as well as being awarded the “Business of the Year” by the Miss Munda Latina organization.  Ms. Hernandez also works with Miss Latina of the Glades and Miss Florida Latina.  This is far from the pinnacle of what she sees as success.  All of these accolades and the attention are just tools to get people talking and looking at her line, something she wants more of in 2013.

Looking forward Angela sees her label in the boutiques that line 5^th Ave S in Naples, along South Beach, or out in Malibu.  The unique and one of a kind nature of her line lends itself to the high end fashion outlets that these locales demand.  Determination and a willingness to tirelessly promote her dream by truly utilizing social media to its potential (on twitter you can find them @Odeluxeswimwear, and on facebook it’s: www.facebook.com/Oceandeluxe, not to mention with official website at: www.oceandeluxe.com) Ms. Hernandez is ready to let you know that Ocean de Luxe is a label to look for now and into the future.

by Trey Bell