Mormaii Opens Garopaba Hub and Eyes New Gear for 2027
Murillo Caldas highlights technical visits in Garopaba, Camaleão wetsuit tests in Ilhabela, and product plans for 2027.
Murillo Caldas details Mormaii opening its Garopaba factory to coaches and connecting with athletes to refine gear. The specialist also previews 2027 product plans and wetsuit test drives in Ilhabela.
The water sports ecosystem thrives on continuous exchanges between athletes, coaches, and the innovators developing the technology behind each piece of gear. In episode 48 of Natação Stemma, Murillo Caldas highlighted how this synergy drives day-to-day operations at Mormaii, opening the doors of its Garopaba (Santa Catarina) facility to industry professionals and previewing upcoming product development milestones.
Technical visits and connecting with the ecosystem
Beyond its 1,000 m² concept store in Garopaba dedicated to the brand's full lineup of neoprene and sports gear, the factory maintains an open-door technical policy. By appointment, coaches and sports consultancy leaders can visit to observe production stages firsthand and understand the engineering behind each wetsuit.
For Murillo, ongoing contact with experienced athletes and coaches is essential to the design process. Ongoing dialogues with coaches and competitors across different eras—from figures like Rogério Arapiraca, Baduca, and Indiano to triathlon legends like Guto Tunes—help translate real swimmer pain points into practical in-water solutions.
From high performance to swimmer retention
The growth of open water swimming relies not just on better equipment, but on keeping people consistently in the water. Lightheartedly, Murillo jokes that the real 'competitor' for swim brands isn't a rival company, but any distraction pulling athletes away from swimming—like choosing skydiving instead. The core priority remains keeping swimmers motivated and comfortable so they continue to improve.
Projects for 2027 and Ilhabela Channel test drives
Looking at development timelines, Mormaii is planning a major new product release cycle for 2027, fueled by international research trips and foreign product developers visiting Brazil for technical alignment sessions.
In the short term, the brand is stepping up initiatives around the Camaleão model with hands-on activations. For events like the Ilhabela Channel crossing, the plan includes beachside test-drive booths, allowing athletes to test different wetsuit thicknesses and sizes directly in the sea before race day.