It doesn’t have to be all about the bikini. In fact, swimwear can play a supporting role, and even revel in it.
For too long, designers have used swimwear as statement pieces, look-at-me tops and bottoms that hit every trend of the summer so perfectly that they’re passé by the time the next beach weather comes along. It’s a real tragedy when that means their designs age past their prime long before the swimwear gets to its second season.
Jade Swim, a recipient of the ApparelMagic Grant for Emerging Designers of Color, is countering this with every new suit they put out.
For every garish print or quick-to-be-dated tassel a competitor is selling, Jade has a chic, minimalist take.
Jade Swim founder Brittany Kozerski, a former fashion editor and stylist, is one of the few to recognize this gap in the market.
After working at many of the country’s top fashion magazines, she saw that what was missing was high quality swimwear in solid colors that could be worn year-round.
The tops, bottoms, and one pieces are bold enough on their own, but they can also slip effortlessly under layers as bodysuits. Never screaming for attention, they offer a subtler, timeless look.
Kozerski’s business, designed in New York City and manufactured out of Los Angeles, is run as modernly as the swimwear looks, with Kozerski operating with collaborators around the globe.
From fashion designers to factory owners, the world of Jade Swim is run by women, every step of the way, a rarity in an industry where the top decision-makers are too often men.
Sustainability is another primary concern of the brand’s. All fabric is OEKO-TEX certified, and some is even made of 100% regenerated nylon. By manufacturing in relatively nearby L.A., product life cycles are analyzed with greater accuracy than what could be done in Asia, and everything from fabric rolls to finished swimwear has to be flown around fewer miles before reaching its final customer, making for a lower carbon footprint. Beyond that, Jade Swim works with nonprofits like Oceana to make a further impact.
With high-profile stockists and prime placement in every fashion magazine, we have reason to say that Jade Swim is just getting started. We can’t wait to see what’s next.
For more information on the ApparelMagic Grant for Emerging Designers of Color, the winners, and other resources for fashion businesses, please click here.
