We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Andréa Bernholtz. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Andréa below.

Hi Andréa , thanks for joining us today. Almost every entrepreneur we know has considered donating a portion of their sales to an organization or cause – how did you make the decision of whether to donate? We’d love to hear the backstory if you’re open to sharing the details.

Yes! Swiminista joined forces with Cancer Schmancer to help fight against cancer during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so throughout October, Swiminista will allocate an impactful donation of 15% of all sales site wide on Swiminista.com towards supporting Cancer Schmancer’s mission.

Collaborating with Cancer Schmancer holds a special significance for me. I am presently caring for my dear friend who is battling stage 4 cancer. In the midst of his chemotherapy journey, I sought to infuse some levity into his life. That’s when we embarked on a delightful TV binge, starting with ‘The Nanny’ featuring the incredible Fran Drescher, and journeyed through to ‘Beautician and the Beast,’ and beyond. Laughter truly proved to be the most potent remedy! Fran, your ability to bring joy into our lives during this challenging time is beyond measure. It’s an honor to allocate 15% of Swiminista.com sales towards supporting Cancer Schmancer.

Andréa , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

So, I am a California native and a serial mom-preneur behind the eco-conscious SWIMINISTA brand. People may know me for co-founding the luxury denim line Rock & Republic in 2002. In 2015, I became the CEO of Titan Industries, adding high-fashion footwear to my resume, but my latest venture features chic swimwear that combines my love of fashion, swimming, and the environment. I really just wanted to make something for women that they felt confident and sexy in at the beach or by the pool (I mean after all we are half naked, we should feel amazing in our swimwear!)

I have never been able to find a swimsuit that fits just right. If it holds me up, it looks like a sports bra or too old-fashioned. Otherwise, it doesn’t provide the right support and I pop out all the time!

So in 2019, after speaking with hundreds of women experiencing the same issues, I set out to create the solution = SWIMINISTA collection!

Based on my previous work at Rock & Republic and first-hand experience with the waste-filled fashion industry, I wanted to not only build a better suit but also a better design process. The result is a collection of ultra-comfortable swimwear featuring a soft, luxurious nylon fabric made from post-consumer plastics. Figure-flattering tops, bottoms, and one-pieces can be mixed and matched, offering timeless silhouettes in adjustable, customized fits designed to inspire confidence from size A to DD. I love what I do!

The SWIMINISTA online boutique also makes the shopping experience a breeze. A personalized sizing guide helps customers easily find the right suit for their unique body. I have set up a convenient “Try At Home” solution eliminates the soul-destroying try-on process. Customers can choose a selection of suits to test in the comfort and privacy of home, and all orders arrive in earth-friendly recycled, compostable packaging.

Any fun sales or marketing stories?

One of my favorite sales stories and “wins” was that our team was able to work with the costume designers of the hit TV show called The White Lotus and the main actress, Aubrey Plaza wore our SWIMINISTA black “Sexy top” and “Fearless bottom” in an episode in 2022 and we still see sales from it! It was a total organic WIN!

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Well we launched SWIMINISTA in March of 2020, so you know what that means… we launched during COVID! Wow what a ride! This is an example of having to pivot right out of the gates! But we hung in there and changed the way we viewed the pandemic, and that’s actually how we came up with the try before you buy and try on at home concept, so ladies could try on swimwear in the comfort of their own home. Being an entrepreneur is all about being able to pivot on the fly, things get thrown at you all day long that are not planned, you have to surround yourself with the best team, and be malleable or open to change!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.swiminista.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swiminista/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/swiminista/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreabernholtz
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@swiminista https://www.pinterest.com/swiminista/

Image Credits
Dimitry Loiseau