Guga Launches Clothing Line, New Store - 網球 Tennis

http://tinyurl.com/eyqpj

Guga Launches Clothing Line, New Store


Photo: Fernando Willadino By Tennis Week
12/01/2005


Guga is now both a brand name and a boutique. Three-time Roland Garros
champion Gustavo "Guga" Kuerten launched his own fashion brand and store in
his native Florianapolis today.



The charismatic Kuerten will now be wearing the clothes of his own brand when
he steps on court to compete on tour next year. Kuerten plans to launch his
2006 campaign on clay on January 30th in Vi鎙 del Mar.

"I think that since my first win in Roland Garros, in 97, with the colorful
clothes, the headbands and my ever changing hair style and colors that I
wear, my looks kinda became a trademark," said Guga in comments translated by
his communications director Diana Gabanyi. "Just like in tennis, what I am
trying to do with this brand is to show something of the best quality
possible, looking for perfection and always trying to surprise and show
something new, different."

The 29-year-old Kuerten's clothing line includes the tennis clothes he will
wear on court, beach wear, surf wear, and polo shirts. A smaller line of
social clothes, bearing the label "Mr. Kuerten" is also available featuring
jeans and polo shirts. Top Brazilian designer, Jum Nakao, who has crafted
some of the most spectacular fashion shows in the past 10 years at the Sao
Paulo fashion week, designed the collection with Kuerten supplying ideas for
the cut, color and fit of the clothes, which are primarily for men. The
women's line consists solely of of beachwear at the moment.

Guga旧 fans will now be able to dress just like him and buy all his apparel
at the same place. The Head racquets, with whom Guga has had a partnership
since he was 16, will also be on sale at his store. With a caf? lounge, book
and music shop and surf boards on sale too, the Guga Kuerten store is located
in the center of Florianopolis.

Kuerten will wear his new tennis clothes when he plays an exhibition in Rio
de Janeiro next week with Nicolas Kiefer, Robby Ginepri, Mariano Puerta,
Ricardo Mello and Fl嫛io Saretta. With big plans to expand the brand and
store, the Guga Kuerten collection will be on sale around the country, at
multibrand stores from February on, and by the end of 2006 they intend have
stores in S緌 Paulo and Rio. There are also plans to take the brand abroad.

"I am very happy seeing all this project ready," Kuerten said. "We have been
working on it for a while and now it is happening. But I don急 want people to
think that I am already starting something outside of tennis, just because I
haven急 been competing. I am working very hard with my coach (Hernan Gumy)
and this only gives me extra motivation to compete. I wanna go back to the
tour and play with my clothes. I have good hopes that 2006 can be a good year
and that the years after this one, can be even better."

Related Story: Kuerten's Clothes Line


--