Marysia Charleston: Swimwear From the South
For Maria Dobrzanska Reeves, everything is about motion.
As a student growing up in Poland, she studied at a ballet boarding school, where lessons in movement were a daily experience.
Later, as a high school student in the United States, swimming and lifeguarding occupied her spare time.
At the University of Delaware, her goal was to follow in her mother’s footsteps to become a physical therapist. But then she met her future husband, Nathaniel, who didn’t think she was destined to be a physical therapist. “I was much more interested in fashion than physical therapy,” Reeves recalled.
Reeves headed to Los Angeles to study at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising. “I loved it,” she said.
Finishing her studies in 2005, she and her husband moved to Charleston, S.C.
By early 2007, Reeves decided she wanted to start a swimwear line. “I felt there was a place I could fill in swimwear,” the designer said in her accented English. “I have been in a leotard or a bathing suit most of my life.”
Her first small collection, made in Los Angeles, debuted for Spring/Summer ’08 and is expanding for Cruise ’09.
Reeves’ designs are simple but flattering. “I was inspired by the 1940s and ’50s, but I wanted to put a modern spin on it,” she explained.
The designer is using a super-soft Italian fabric that is 72 percent nylon and 28 percent Lycra. Her suits, which are mostly bikinis, are lined in different colors. Many pieces are reversible.
Colors include an aqua/gold combination, a fuchsia/orange colorway and a black/white mix. Bandeau and halter tops are popular silhouettes. Wholesale prices range from $36 to $55 for separates and $67 to $84 for one-pieces.
For more information, call (212) 695-2341 or visit www.marysiaswim.com. —Deborah Belgum
