Design Thinking: Agua Bendita

(Image courtesy of Agua Bendita. Image depicts the Leandra Dress. Agua Bendita describes this dress as, "A relaxed maxi dress with side slits, and smocking on the bodice for ease of fit and movement." Price=$230. You can order this dress at https://www.aguabendita.com/voila-leandra-dress-7810/p)

In Graduate School, one of the buzzwords professors love to discuss is "Design Thinking." Design Thinking is an iterative process in which we seek to understand the user, challenge assumptions, and redefine problems to identify alternative strategies and solutions that might not be instantly apparent with our initial level of understanding (Dam and Siang). Design Thinking enables a company to understand consumer needs to serve their audience better. For this project, I contacted different companies to learn how the organizations apply Design Thinking into their market offerings. I had the opportunity to talk with Agua Bendita to learn more about their organization.

(Image courtesy of Agua Bendita's Instagram)

1. What makes Agua Bendita different from other swim brands?

Agua Bendita is a Colombian brand handmade by artisans. I believe this is what makes us different.

Agua Benditas designs are first hand painted with watercolor by inhouse artists, then, these designs are digitized, each of our prints are placed prints, our design team plans for days specifically where they want each print to go so every single piece is exactly the same and the designs are perfect.

Almost all of our pieces have special embroidery and crafts made by local artisans around Colombia. These artisans are known in our brand like our ABhearts, they have worked with us since the beginning. Our ABhearts are women that work from their homes, they are stay home moms that have developed their own business. Sowing is a Colombian tradition that has traveled through years in every home. Agua Bendita feels proud of our ancestral roots and will forever deliver art pieces in each design.

(Image courtesy of Agua Bendita's Instagram)

2. How does the brand stay ahead of upcoming fashion trends?

Mariana and Catalina, our Co-Founders, are in love with fashion. They travel the world in search of the latest fashion trends. They love to create different designs that respond to new fashion trends with an exclusive Agua Bendita touch.

(Image courtesy of Agua Bendita's Instagram)

3. How does Agua Beneita incorporate its mission and vision into its product offerings?

Agua Benditas mission is to create the best team, an incredible working place and tons of work opportunities for Colombian people. Each of our designs tells a story. From inhouse artist to local artist, each year Agua Bendita has more working hands that make every piece possible.

(Image courtesy of Shutterstock. Image depicts View of Cartagena de Indias, Colombia)

4. What is the future of the company?

The dream is to become the largest swimwear company in the world!

(Gif courtesy of Wix.com )