Beachwear made for the man who prefers a dapper look while lounging poolside or out for a day on the water—209 Mare is the blueprint for elevated vacation and resort apparel. Brothers Gabriel and Federico had no prior fashion experience when they began to develop the first prototype for 209 Mare. The duo traveled all of northern Europe in a Fiat 500 filled to the brim with fabric and trims as samples for manufactures.
A year of travel, trade shows and brainstorming finally brought them the their first success. The first prototype was the iconic terry towel beach blazer which was officially launched in 2017 at the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Monte Carlo. From there, 209 Mare took off and never looked back. The company continues to make strides and create timeless pieces that “follow the lifestyle and culture of the understated yet elegant French Riviera during its heyday in the 70’s.” Today their pieces tell a story of determination and hard work which is apparent in everything they make. 209 Mare products range from beachwear to leisurewear or as they call it, “Rivierawear” for both him and her. Their values are to be a beachwear brand with a slower, more ethical approach to luxury that goes beyond fashion. They value both quality of materials and craftsmanship with an attention to detail. Their philosophy is one that NOBLEMAN deeply respects and admires in a brand and lifestyle.
Most recently, the brand released their new collection, Le 55. This particular collection pays homage their original beach blazer but with a cashmere-feel terry towel fabric. The Le 55 blazer maintains the classic 209 Mare beach blazer look and comes in 3 different colors; Navy with off white trim, Optic white with navy trim and all navy. In addition to the release of their latest collection, NOBLEMAN had the honor of interviewing co-founder, Federico Uribe.
Who has been the most influential person in your life? What lessons or wisdom did you learn from them? My father was my biggest aesthetic inspiration. A man with sublime taste, who dressed to the nines in a completely effortless way. It was in his DNA you could say. He was a great admirer of the arts, his art collection and sense for interior design is something that I will always admire. Unfortunately he passed away a few months ago during the lockdown. He was however a man of extraordinary values, curiosity and culture. So yes-he may be the most influential person to me and where I am at now.
What about 209 Mare beachwear do you think makes it so unique? Our creative process is very unique specifically the way we go about finding inspiration for our collections. Usually we find it in a song, film, house (check out the bubble palace in Cannes) or even on a menu cover at a beach restaurant in Saint Tropez. Additionally we pride ourselves on being irreverent about fashion. We don’t follow what others are doing.
What is your number 1 travel item that you must take with you every time you travel? A terry towel Beach Blazer. I can wear it by the pool in the morning with a pair of swim trunks as I have breakfast or I can wear it with a light linen white t shirt and a pair of jeans when I go out at night. I basically only need one jacket for my entire vacation that takes me from beach to boat to bar.
What does your ideal day off include? A day of golf with my best mates, followed by a late lunch that goes into the early evening at a beachside restaurant with plenty of wine.
Your drink of choice? A really good Mezcal or a well served G&T in a proper fish bowl glass.
When it comes to design, what do you do for inspiration? Take a road trip through the region that I live in (French Riviera), top down and music all the way up, with no destination in mind.
What projects are you working on or have coming up? I’m working on the 2021 campaign for 209 Mare as well as finishing and presenting that collection across a series of shows. At some point when I find some time, I’d like to document my journey and write it in the form of a novel, no names or nothing, just to be able to share the stories that have led me up to this point.
NOBLEMAN highly recommends a timeless investment from 209 Mare for your next getaway or even just to sport poolside at home. Whatever it is and wherever you are, suit up for the summer with 209 Mare. Use savings code NOBLEVIP to shop the newest collection, Le 55.
Words by Veronica Flores
