Nightswim

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What is the heart of your brand?

At the heart of the brand is a sense of serenity and purity. It’s a nocturnal moment of stillness, the kind that you’d feel while standing at water’s edge where the ocean meets the sand. It’s a spark of light in the darkness like a shooting star.

Always operating out of the heart while expressing my craft — that’s truly the root of all that I do in business. When I started Nightswim, my intention was to give back, I even contemplated registering it as a non-profit. I know that living a fulfilled and happy life is about serving others and the planet — this is the heart behind the brand.

Where do you draw inspiration from?

People watching and spotting those who are in full expression inspire me — the ones that don’t play safe or follow trends. Those who aren’t afraid to authentically represent themselves in this world.

I feel somewhat removed from the fashion industry in a way. I removed myself by going to Costa Rica, people there are so laid back and in general, don’t think of fashion much. This “Pura Vida” state of being, influences me in a way. I strive to make my pieces as comfortable as being naked, whatever will allow you to feel one with nature and that I got from spending time away in-spirit (inspired).

And of course, travel — opening my eyes to different colors, textures or styles always sparks something within me. Every time I come back to LA, I find myself intrigued by paintings, pictures, vintage goods and street style.

What materials are you using to create your line?

I use three fabrics: a french terry made of organic cotton and recycled P.E.T, a super soft breathable and lightweight challis and the newest addition: Cupro. I’m very excited about integrating cupro into the collection — it’s a silky smooth fully recovered cellulose fiber, made from cotton linter, that would otherwise be discarded.

What makes your brand sustainable?

Sustainability for everyone is different, for me, it means respecting the environment and people as much as I humanly can. For Nightswim, it means sourcing materials that are responsibly farmed, processed and dyed. Sourcing and manufacturing locally as much as possible to limit emissions. Designing clothing that is timeless, so that a year from now you don’t feel that the Nightswim piece is irrelevant. Using recycled materials for marketing, collecting fabric waste and reinventing it.

Even our shipping has a sustainable approach — we recently partnered with a carrier who is able to offer 0 emissions on domestic deliveries. What I am most excited to share is our on-demand ordering process that we are currently working on. It’s taking tons of restructuring but it is worth the challenge. Overproduction in fashion is a HUGE problem and so this season we are committing to doing out part in.

Overall, the soul of Nightswim is very mindful in the way we operate, on macro and micro levels. I don’t think there’s a facet of the business that I haven’t dissected and asked myself how I could make it more ethical or eco-friendly.

On a personal level why, how & when did you decide to create an eco friendly brand?

This didn’t happen overnight. I’ve been in the fashion industry for 14+ years and Nightswim has only been around for two years. Prior to Nightswim, I worked for a very successful fast-fashion brand which showed me how the fast-fashion industry worked and how detrimental it really is, not only to the environment but the people. I’d work one-on-one with the factories and had to pressure them to reduce the cost of their labor — it was unfair. We’d buy a beautiful hand beaded dress for under $10. That same dress, we’d sell to a major department store who would then give it a retail price tag of $150. What part of that was fair? Why was I part of the exploitation of this labor? Nothing made sense.

But if I’m being super candid here, it was a combination of traveling to the Dominican Republic. I saw how the poorest of people, who didn’t have all the materialism we were used to in the States were more happy than many of the people I saw back home. They appeared to be living in pure bliss in community. Having that experience with them and having my father pass away, gave me a different outlook in life. I started to value community, experiences and a simple life.

Afterward a major break, I went back to work in LA for this brand and nothing about it felt right. I wanted to live a more fulfilled life, fashion started to feel superficial. I wanted to have a purpose with my craft. I had pursued fashion because I loved it and because it was my creative outlet but it wasn’t that anymore. I decided to quit that job and move to Indonesia to start my own business. A business that had a purpose, was aligned with my values and allowed me to live the life that I wanted near the beach. That’s where the idea of Nightswim came to fruition but it took me 4 years to materialize what it would look like.

Do you believe in the future of humanity?

I have to, otherwise this world would feel so horrible. I tend to remove myself from the media, away from the hustle to submerge myself in nature — it gives me a sense of peace and faith. Being around nature with people who love it and protect it as much as I do makes me believe in the future of humanity. Nature has the balance we need and I do believe we are moving
towards a harmonious existence with mama Earth.

What are some easy steps you can do to live a more sustainable & conscious lifestyle?

Everyone is on a different path and journey, some don’t even care about living a sustainable lifestyle and that’s ok. It just means we (those that care about sustainability) have to do better. But whatever your stage in sustainability is, I admire you for trying.

As far as easy steps go — like the bare minimum steps, I’d say, is to limit your consumption. I believe our society is brainwashed into thinking we need more materialism to find happiness. So before every purchase ask yourself questions like — will this last longer than a season? Is the quality top-notch? Is this toxic? 20 years from now, will it sit in a landfill? Is it a purchase that’s filling a void? What’s my intention here? We can all question our purchasing habits a bit more.

What are you most proud of?

To be living the lifestyle I saw for myself and to be doing it responsibly. I always wanted to live a balanced lifestyle between the city and tropical paradise doing what I love — Nightswim enabled me to be doing that today. But, I’m most proud of trusting my gut and diving into the unknown, out of my comfort zone. Had I not quit my job in LA, moved away, struggled to discover what business to build — I wouldn’t be living this lifestyle.

Where do you see your role in creating a non toxic environment for future generations?

I see myself educating and spreading a conscious consumer mindset in fashion particularly. Fashion is what I know, and exposing it’s detrimental effects is something that this world could benefit from. I believe education and innovation is at the core of a better future, in every aspect of life — whether it is how we farm to how we travel.

What are your hopes for the future?

I hope we change our habits for the better and become attuned with what’s really valuable in life. I hope that we can live in harmony with this beautiful planet in community, supporting one another. I hope we can live to see our children connected to nature, honoring her abundance. I hope we can elevate each other, hold each other accountable and inspire one-another to be the best version of ourselves so that generations to come surpass our current state. And in fashion, I have hope that it will be restructured into a circular economy.

What is your mission? Call to action?

My mission is to make beings feel great in their own skin — confident and at ease. I want to empower women to live their dreams.

What’s sexy about eco-friendly fashion to you?

I’ve always had a love affair with itty-bitty clothing, swimwear and lingerie. As a kid, I’d draw the tiniest swimsuits, I’m even surprised at some of those drawings! And now as an adult that attraction to clothing, has transcended to an admiration for class, edge and eco-friendly pieces. Combining both my desire for expression and logic of sustainability, really makes eco-friendly
fashion sexy.

How do you think we can convince the fashion world to switch to sustainable practices?

This is hard, convincing people to believe something is not my approach. Offering beautiful fashion that is responsible is my way of doing things. I think providing options that are responsible is really what is needed at the moment.

I read a fashion study where people were asked to choose between sustainable and unsustainable pieces — all chose sustainability! I see a disconnect in human behaviour. Even though in the study, people picked sustainability, they aren’t following through with the way they purchase. If every designer and every brand did their part to care for the environment and offered sustainable options, we wouldn’t have to convince consumers.

I do agree that we have to educate people to understand that it simply costs more to care and to value a well-crafted fashion that lasts longer than a season. We have to reverse the fast-pace fashion mentality and teach that slow fashion is the future we need. Once people are equipped with information, they will start to make wiser choices.

How do you vote with your dollar?

I used to be deep into the fashion industry in Los Angeles, always staying on top of trends — it was like an addiction. My closet was exploding and now my closet basically fits into a suitcase. I’ve drastically reduced the amount of clothing I purchase. Mostly, because I’m living a simple life in nature — it’s been a major shift.

When I do vote with my dollar, I shop second-hand or vintage goods. I also love supporting my friends’ brands, or novelty brands that value ethical and eco matters as I do.

What are some of the major challenges you have met? What are some of the greatest moments?

There’s an endless amount of challenges when operating a business — but the biggest challenge has been sticking to sustainability. At times I feel like a soldier on the frontlines. Resources are limited in sustainability — it’s not widely available quite yet, so if something isn’t eco or ethical, I have to innovate. That innovation process is costly, time-consuming and it comes with many trial and errors.

Sticking to planet + people over profit is challenging on a personal level. I’ve questioned myself many times on why I’m making this so difficult on myself. Majority of corporations and designers aren’t operating this way, why does a small brand like Nightswim matter if it’s sustainable or not? Why don’t I just make it easy on myself? No matter how tempting that may be, I have to remind myself that in the long run it will pay off and nothing is more gratifying than honoring my values.

How do you honor mother earth every day?

I feel that it’s integrated into my everyday life. Running a business that truly seeks to respect the environment regardless of profit, is one of the ways I honor mama earth. In general, being mindful of my footprint is something I always keep in mind.

What does love mean to you?

It’s an intangible phenomenon that is pure good, something we all know. I truly believe that at the core of every being is love. I strive to make love the leading foundation of every decision made. Love is what I strive to reflect onto the world.

Life motto?

Dive into the unknown — all the magic happens when you leave your comfort or simply follow a spark within.

What does the term “Ecovocateur” mean to you?

I think of a provocateur, the seducer which ignites your desires. Adding eco to provocateur, hence “Evocateur” is an alluring desire to be eco-conscious or that which evokes an eco-consciousness.

Anything you’d like to add? Important for us (the world) to know

I’d love to connect with individuals who see eye to eye with our values — so please reach out. Let’s change our fashion habits together!