INDUSTRY ISSUES
Planning Swim Strategy for Year-Round Success in a Season-Specific Category
By Dorothy Crouch, Contributing Writer | May 8, 2025
California Apparel News asked swim-industry insiders: What is the single most-important piece of advice you feel is crucial for your associates, colleagues and peers to plan a successful swim strategy for the remainder of the year?
Boardriders Inc. Appoints New Global Chief Operating Officer
Boardriders Inc., the company that designs, produces and distributes apparel under the brands Billabong, DC Shoes, Element, Quicksilver, ROXY, RVCA and VonZipper, has announced the appointment of Deborah Palmer Keiser as global chief operating officer.
Surf Expo Supports Watersport and Beach-Lifestyle Communities
During its Sept. 9–11 run, event producer Emerald’s Surf Expo show returned to the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.
At Faena Forum, Miami Swim Week Powered by Art Hearts Fashion Brings the Heat
During its run July 8–11, Miami Swim Week Powered by Art Hearts Fashion showcased designers whose garments epitomized the atmosphere of the hot, provocative edginess for which the city is known.
With Production in L.A., Bromelia Swimwear Brings Brazilian Confidence
Two years after launching her company in Rio de Janeiro, Bromelia Swimwear founder and native Angeleno Lauren Quinn decided a move to her hometown would be best for the brand and relocated after launching the swimwear line in 2018.
A Diverse Range of Brands and Representation at Paraiso
The Paraiso Miami Beach celebration of swimwear and resort fashion returned to its on-site schedule during Miami Swim Week, as industry insiders welcomed a long-awaited return to the beachside runway to become immersed in sun, surf and the business of selling swim.
Versatility and Sleek Designs Unite With Empathy in Unify the Ties
Artist Taylor Nassar understands the importance of employing art to heal mental-health challenges. As a young woman, Nassar struggled with her mental health and body image, eventually employing her artistic talents as a method to cope. The need to create evolved into Nassar’s brand, Unify the Ties, a San Diego swimwear label that launched in 2017 and relied on the artist’s inspiration from growing up near the beach, which yielded designs based on her own artistic works.
Andréa Bernholtz Embraces Yacht Life With New Swiminista-Lacroix Collection
A devotion to luxury and sustainability drove Andréa Bernholtz as she launched her latest collection under The House of Christian Lacroix x Swiminista collaboration. The Yacht Life collection is a celebration of vibrancy through striking colors and flattering cuts yet maintains the Swiminista mission to ensure women feel confident when wearing the brand’s pieces.
Breaking Body-Image Boundaries, Curvy Beach Affords True Size Inclusivity
Former actor Elizabeth Taylor had seen enough resistance to sexier bikinis in the expanded-size swimsuit market to know that she wanted to change the narrative surrounding designs for curvier women.
Circling the Globe, Yarn Movement Shares Glimpses of Perfect Getaways
This season, the summer of 2021 will be held to high expectations as the beach bound and poolside loungers venture out for sand, surf, sun and showing off their swim fashions, such as this Yarn Movement look that was shot in Tanzania.
Radiant Roots by Unify the Ties Unites Swimwear and Social Good
Dedicated to helping their clients feel comfortable in their own skin, San Diego brand Unify the Ties has been engaging in work to promote inclusivity and awareness.
Trina Turk Docks Its Swim Line at Lunada Bay
As the swim season draws near, Trina Turk looks forward to new beginnings this summer while consumers seek the brand’s stylish options to enjoy sunny days.
Swim Line Zonarch Jumps Waves to Make Debut
For years, Geneviève Andre de la Porte dreamed of bringing a sustainable, direct-to-consumer swimwear brand to market. She was originally scheduled to unveil Zonarch in March, but as state and local governments issued stay-at-home orders she thought it prudent to postpone the launch date, not the least because her sources for regenerated nylon fabrics had to close their factories, and other factories she worked with shifted gears to making personal protective equipment.
Swiminista Ready to Roll Out New Collection for Post-COVID-19 World
Andréa Bernholtz, founder of the Calabasas, Calif., Swiminista brand of women’s swimwear, forecasted a post-pandemic boom as she prepared to roll out the second collection of her brand’s collaboration line The House of Christian Lacroix x Swiminista.
Snapper Rock 2021 is Bright with Sustainability in Mind
Upon unveiling its 2021 collection, swimwear brand Snapper Rock presented new patterns and greater sustainable efforts.
Core Surf-and-Skate Retailers Saw Big Rally
Surf-and-skate retailers have been riding one of the few silver-lined waves for their businesses in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many team sports have been discouraged as public-health groups and government officials recommend safe practices to slow the spread. Gyms and fitness studios have been closed, but consumers looking for a new outlet have been discovering board sports, which don’t require being on a team or exercising indoors.
