Crystal Jin: Taking the Minimalist Road
Designer Crystal Jin Eley had eight years of experience under her belt before she decided to launch her swimwear line, Crystal Jin, last year.
After studying at Parsons The New School for Design in New York, she worked with several well-known designers, including Proenza Schouler and Catherine Malandrino, in the areas of design, sales and marketing.
Then Eley decided to start her own label, gravitating toward swimwear. “I’ve always had a special place in my heart for swimwear,” said Eley, who grew up in Minnesota and appreciates the few fleeting months of summer there.
Eley’s swimsuits are minimalist. Think barely there bikinis and cutout one-pieces that leave little to the imagination. “The cuts are pretty small,” Eley admitted. “But those are the cuts I love.”
All the fabrics are milled in Italy, giving the suits a soft hand. She went with basic colors for her latest collection—lots of black, blue, coral red and white—and vibrant geometric-style designs and animal prints with a twist.
Wholesale prices for tops and bottoms, sold separately, are $28 to $35, and one-pieces sell for $75 to $80.
For more information, go to www.crystaljin.com or call (646) 708-1235.—Deborah Belgum
