MARCIO SANTOS

Márcio Alexandre dos Santos was born in Porto Alegre in February 1968. At the age of 13, he began his journey into the world of fashion design by painting uniforms for the rowing club where he practiced in the capital of Rio Grande do Sul. In 1984, he was introduced to surfing by his friend Marcelo Brasil, and from this partnership, the underground brand Sol Nascente Surfwear was born. The brand's handmade t-shirts reflected the spirit of surfing in southern Brazil, highlighting iconic spots like Laguna, Imbituba, and Farol de Santa Marta.

Driven by the need to refine his skills, Márcio set up a small atelier/screen printing shop in 1984, where he produced full-print boardshorts — an innovation for the time — along with Velcro wallets, shirts, and t-shirts for his own brand. In the 1980s, as the surf fashion scene grew in Rio Grande do Sul and there was a lack of qualified designers in the market, he began creating prints and designs for brands such as Pychulyn, Murphy’s, and Deandê, which also made their mark on the national scene.

Over the years, Márcio witnessed the evolution of design, from the days of drawing with a nib pen to the sophisticated graphic editing software used today. His 40-year journey includes partnerships with dozens of companies, with the most notable being Proside, with which he has maintained a collaboration for over 35 years, along with other major brands such as Mormaii, Qix, Freesurf, Lojas Renner, Brasil Sul, Classic, Dump, and Gang.

In 2023, after decades of dedication to design and surfwear fashion, Márcio decided to share his knowledge in a book, debuting in the literary world with Marcas que Brilham (Brands that Shine). This work marked the beginning of a new phase in his life, where, in addition to design, he explores themes such as balance, prosperity, and spirituality — subjects that have now become his greatest passions. This new book, Pobre Não Entra no Céu (Poor Don’t Enter Heaven), is part of this journey, reflecting his quest for a deeper understanding of the connections between ancient wisdom and contemporary success, and foreshadowing other works to come, always guided by the desire to promote a more prosperous and balanced life.