Mormaii's Expansion to Portugal and Open Water Plans
Murillo Caldas details the brand's historic link with the Ilhabela Crossing and steps to bring Mormaii swimming gear to Europe.
In an interview on the Natação Stemma podcast, Murillo Caldas discussed Mormaii's presence at sporting events and its international expansion strategy. The expert revisited memorable moments from Brazil's Ilhabela Crossing and outlined plans to grow within the European open water swimming market.
Maintaining an active presence at sporting events and direct dialogue with the aquatic community have always been core strategic pillars for Mormaii. During an appearance on the Natação Stemma podcast—which has previously explored wetsuit engineering and neoprene technology—Murillo Caldas detailed the brand's historic connection to iconic races in Brazil and the ongoing steps to establish its swimming line across the European continent.
A historic connection with the Ilhabela Crossing
Among the Brazilian events supported by the brand, the Ilhabela Channel Crossing holds a special place. This long-standing partnership has fostered an almost symbiotic identity with the event, known for unpredictable conditions and severe weather challenges that test the resilience of both organizers and athletes.
Murillo recalled instances where the team faced severe weather shifts with south and east winds, closed channels, and sudden overnight southwest gales that overturned tents and displaced buoys. Behind-the-scenes stories include rescuing swimmers swept by currents toward Saco da Capela using stand-up paddleboards, underscoring the brand's hands-on expertise regarding ocean dynamics and open water demands.
Steps toward international expansion and testing in Portugal
Expanding abroad is not uncharted territory for Mormaii. The company holds a long history of participating in international optical trade shows in Italy and France, as well as surf expos in the United States. Recently, Mormaii entered the Portuguese market through racquet sports licensing, paving the way to study the local sports ecosystem.
When assessing Portugal's swimming landscape, Murillo identified opportunities to understand European market behavior. Practical validation came through sponsoring an international open water race featuring athletes from 43 countries. Following positive feedback and strong demand from international competitors, Mormaii plans to set up an operational base in Portugal to serve broader European demand.
A legacy in international commercial diving
This European push builds upon earlier technical ventures outside Brazil. In the diving sector, Mormaii has catered to Caribbean recreational diving while also supplying commercial and offshore operations in Europe. In 2007, the company developed a specialized commercial diving suit for a Swedish offshore firm, a project that earned an international award for the world's best workwear suit.