Launching An Eco Swimwear Label

Paige Bolahood is owner and founder of Bare Beach, a swimwear company passionate about getting rid of one-time-use plastics. Their swimsuits are made from “Repreve” - recycled polyester derived from plastic bottles. The products are entirely produced (including the bottle recycling) in North America. I was keen to hear from Paige about working with this exclusive fabric, the pros and cons of the printing process, and the highs and lows of her business so far.

This is a 14 minute Lesson from design consultant Vicki Wallis of The Fashion Business Coach.

So, you've decided you want to start a sustainable swimwear brand - but where should you start in order to achieve a successful business that's going to make the biggest splash possible?

In this introduction to the Launching An Eco Swimwear Label Masterclass, Vicki Wallis covers the key areas to consider when launching a new swim brand, including identifying your USP, planning a killer marketing strategy and connecting with your target market.

This is a 13 minute Lesson from fashion business coach and swimwear consultant Vicki Wallis. Vicki is founder of The Fashion Business Coach, with expertise in helping launch swimwear and activewear labels, and especially those with a focus on sustainability.

The global swim market is booming and is set to be valued at over £22bn by the year 2024; there are more startups entering this space than in any other area of fashion. Therefore, it’s a must for your brand to have something specific that makes you stand out in a crowd. Even sustainability alone is no longer a USP because there are so many sustainable swim brands out there already. New brands need to take more time and care researching their marketing strategies before making business decisions. 

In this lesson, as part of a wider series on Launching An Eco Swimwear Label, Vicki Wallis addresses the ways in which businesses can use marketing to differentiate their brand in an overcrowded swimwear market.

Because of the sudden influx of swim brands, there are a lot of manufacturers out there producing swimwear for new brands - but be sure to err on the side of caution! In this lesson, Vicki covers the common pitfalls brands make when working with manufacturers and how you can be sure to avoid them by following the practice of seasoned industry professionals. You'll also be guided in detail step-by-step through a working tech pack for swimwear, leaving with the confidence and knowledge to create your own. 

The swimwear market is one of the most advanced in the fashion industry when it comes to sustainability. There are several routes you can take to design sustainable swimwear and in this lesson, Vicki Wallis covers the essential areas to take into account when establishing your collection. 

The opportunities for selling your swimwear range are vast and the the different options available to brands can get confusing. In this lesson, Vicki presents the pros and cons of some of the opportunities for sales, so that you can make an informed choice on what will work for your business.  

Product technologist Sarah Blackham follows up her part one Introduction to Regulations and Directives with this more in-depth look at regulations and directives you should be aware of when producing toys, childrenswear or UV accessories and swimwear, along with your manufacturing obligations.

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