Gus Dantas is the man behind the Brazilian label Exodia, which offers a colorful collection of men’s swimwear. Through his label, Gus wanted to establish a two-way communication: on one hand, his collection is dedicated to the sunny beaches of Rio de Janeiro and to the people from around the world who live in that spirit and on the other hand, his brand is inspired by the same places. Discover our interview with him!
What can you tell us about your background?
Gus Dantas: I was born and raised in Brazil in the beach town capital of Vitoria, where the sea, sun and sand have been an integral part of my day to day life since I was a young boy. My parents always cultivated in me the freedom of enjoying the beach and I think this is why leading Exodia Beachwear has been so effortless on my part. When I turned 18, I moved to Rio de Janeiro to study communications, and the physical beauty of this amazing city made me fall in love even more with the ocean and its 24/7 beachlife atmosphere. However, I did eventually move to the US to continue my studies in communication research in Philadelphia. While living in America, I became interested in fashion and ended up writing my master’s thesis for the University of Pennsylvania on the flows of fashion diffusion during the 1970s and the influence of subcultures in the mainstream American culture of that period. I also took advantage of living close to NYC to travel the world as much as I could, always trying to absorb and understand the different threads that linked people, places and their cultures.
For over a decade I missed Rio’s stunning natural settings, so after I was done with graduate work I knew my place was back in Rio. Now, I’m happily involved with Exodia Beachwear here in Rio de Janeiro, where I try to fuse my love for this city and its amazing beaches with concepts and styles I’ve been observing and experiencing across the globe.
How did you decide to lead a swimwear brand for men?
GD: It seemed to me like a perfect marriage to be able to not only live by the beach and enjoy the beach lifestyle that I’ve always loved, but to also be doing something that could connect it all one place. Designing and creating swimwear for men has turned into a great passion of mine and I not only want to dress people to enjoy the freedom of a beach lifestyle but to give them something extra. Every collection I create comes with a different background story behind it, and each one is inspired by an idea that can come from an art installation, a piece of architecture, the symbolism of a color palette, or even the national flag of a country. Last year we released the collection ‘colors of Brazil’ which was inspired by the colors of Brazil’s national flag: green, yellow, blue and white. For this campaign we had models representing the different skin tones present in the colors of Brazilian men. So, within each collection I connect with people by having an extra layer of meaning that tries to bring us all closer together.
What makes Exodia different?
GD: I think that assigning meaning to everything we do is what makes us different. For instance with our ‘BLU’ collection we picked several shades of the color blue in order to let men know what each color represented. So, by selecting a petroleum blue shade we were also trying to empower men with the depths of a dark, sober and sophisticated hue. At the same time, among other shades and tones, we offered a light turquoise hue, which was meant to inspire men to connect with their inner peace, and to transpire calmness and serenity. So everything we do at Exodia Beachwear has a deeper layer of meaning, and we hope that by offering men something beyond the mere design of a swim suit, we can connect them with the world around them.
Who are your customers?
GD: Exodia has been experiencing a tremendous growth in the last few months since we did a photoshoot in Lisbon before this year’s European summer. We now have many clients outside Brazil and we are happy with the interest we are receiving from men in the US, Canada, Portugal, Ireland, Britain, France, Switzerland and Germany. We try to be an inclusive brand that has no age limits so I design for all men independently of their age group, skin color, orientation or beliefs. I honestly believe that all men should experience the same kind of freedom that I’ve always felt living near the ocean, so that is what I try to do when I design suits and create a collection. By offering designs with styles that range from slim fit, classic or larger boxer style cuts I think men of all ages and from all walks of life should be proud to wear our swimsuits.
What is your take on the current state of menswear in general? What would you like to see change?
GD: Menswear has become too much of a fast fashion business that follows trends that come and go so quickly that many times it sacrifices quality in order to keep up with such a rapidly changing environment. I think that what I would really like to see is the return of quality and the creation of clothes that break the boundaries of time because they are crafted with timelessness in mind. That has certainly been one of my main missions at Exodia Beachwear: give men style, craftsmanship and quality that are not after fast trends but timeless pieces that can last a lifetime.
What do you think will be the next big thing in men’s fashion?
GD: I think men will soon realize that fashion doesn’t need to follow a fast fashion trend if they invest in pieces that are made with quality, timelessness and craftsmanship in mind. For swimwear, in particular, I think men will soon be able to make a distinction between brands that are just out there to provide something quick and cheap, which will end up fading rapidly, as opposed to brands that care about dressing men well, with great style and designs that are timeless.
What are you currently obsessed with, fashion- and otherwise?
GD: I’ve always been obsessed with traveling and seeing how people across the globe are getting more and more interconnected. In the past, swimwear was a small niche within the fashion industry, and it was consequently produced for a limited time and with limited resources. Now swimwear has gained grounds and it is a year round business because there is always a spot in the world where the sun is shining. So my obsession is to let Exodia fly and take over the sunny spots in this amazing world!
Thank you!
Fraquoh and Franchomme
P.S. We want to hear from you! What do you think of Gus and his brand? What is your take on his vision? What type of beachwear do you prefer? Share your feedback, questions or thoughts in the comments below! For more articles on style, fashion tips and cultural insights, you can subscribe to Attire Club via e-mail or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram!