Helen Jon: Fashion Meets Function
Gwyn Prentice was on quest for the perfect boardshort. When Prentice and business partner Missy Neville set out to create their own collection of swimwear, the two made sure to design boardshorts with a great fit and a design that coordinated with the collection of swim separates and one-pieces.
“We had numerous fit sessions to make sure we reached our goal,” Neville said.
Made to wear in and out of the water, the boardshorts feature the same sophisticated and understated hardware as the suits and feature many of the same vintage-inspired prints. The suits are designed with a “more conservative cut—it’s sexy but not too revealing,” Neville said.
And to round out the newly launched lifestyle brand, Helen Jon includes color-blocked rashguards, caftans, tunics and board skirts in the same color stories and prints.There are coordinating headscarves, as well. Styles include triangle, halter and tankini tops, as well as bandeaus, banded halters and tie-front styles. Bottoms include string, tie-side and hipster bottoms, as well as a retro high-waist style. One-pieces include halter, tie-back and plunge styles.
Wholesale prices range from $41 to $47 for separates up to $60 to $70 for one-pieces. The boardshorts are wholesale priced from $33 to $40, and coverups are priced from $32 to $60.
Designed and headquartered in Shawnee Mission, Kan., and produced in Southern California, Helen Jon launched at the Miami SwimShow in July, then headed to New York for CurveNY and Las Vegas for CurveNV. Boutiques and resorts in the Hamptons in New York, the Caribbean and the West Coast have already placed orders for the collection.
“The enthusiasm was terrific,” Neville said. “People got us and understood who we are and what we want to accomplish. We’re both mothers and businesswomen. We’re from the Midwest, and we have an understanding of the East Coast and the West Coast.[We] have a passion for making women feel beautiful and confident in her swimwear.
For more information, call (855) 645-1887 or visit www.helenjon.com.
—Alison A. Nieder
