In this day of ‘less is more’ swimsuit design, Pamela Levenson of Popina Swimwear is bent on offering more modest & form flattering swimwear styles. Inspired by the 1940s and 50s and using modern construction and fabrics, Pamela creates designs for those of us who want a suit that actually flatters the body, instead of just showing every possible bit of skin allowed by law. Her retro-inspired designs are ones that you can actually swim in and are sure to get you noticed on the beach for all the right reasons, and not because your top came off in the surf.
You can find Popina Swimwear designs online in the Popina shop, in Portland at the Popina Portland Swimwear Boutique and in reatail locations in the US.
Read more about Pamela and Popina Swimwear in my interview with Pamela for this week’s Indie Artist Fixx.
1. What’s the name of your business and what do create and sell?
The name of my business is Retro Swimwear by Popina Swim. I create retro, vintage inspired swimwear. My swimwear does a great job of covering all the right stuff and still having a great sense of style. I believe you don’t have to show it all to be sexy!
2. Tell us how you got started with your indie business.
I interned at a bikini shop when I was going to fashion school. Our shop did custom swimwear, I was responsible for the cutting one summer, I never thought I would use those skills I learned ever again! Twenty years later down the road, living in Portland, Oregon I had a trip to Cancun in November. I looked all over for a swimsuit that I liked and could not find one.
Then a bunch of things came together. The first job I had in Portland was working for a fabric company that sold swimwear fabric, a few years earlier I bought an industrial cover stitch machine on a whim from a friend, and my job at the time required me to learn pattern making. Growing up sewing, I was able to put all these pieces together to make what would become the Popina Boy Short, Retro Halter and Strappy Top for my trip. I got lots of compliments on my designs on that trip, and then the story that many entrepreneurs have, friends asked for suits, I then sold consignment for two years, then two years ago I opened my brick and mortar retail store – a whopping 250 sq ft. My Portland Swimwear Boutique expanded to triple its initial size earlier this year (I now have 910 sq ft) we now carry other outside swimwear brands, cover ups, flipflops and chemical free sun tan lotions.
3. What are your inspirations in your art and in life?
My main inspiration is nature and the outdoors, living in the Pacific Northwest there are a lot of amazing beautiful places to visit.
4. Are there any pearls of wisdom you’d like to share with newbie indie business owners?
Research your name before you start manufacturing a product. Trademark research is not too hard to do. Go to the US Patent and Trademark site and you can see if your potential name has been taken I did a blog entry on my web site on this process in a little more detail.
5. What three things can’t you live without?
HGTV, a good pedicure & my husband
6. What’s the best thing about what you do? And the worst?
Being creative the best, the worst – bookkeeping
7. What blogs and mags do you read and what shops do you shop at?
Favorite Portland Boutiques: Mabel & Zora, Garnish, Elizabeth Street and Sofada
Mags: Lucky, Sunset, W
8. Were you an artsy craftsy kid? If so, what kinds of things did you do?
I was really into knitting as a kid, I made slippers for my whole family and for friends.
9. Are you a dog person or a cat person?
I like cats and dogs, currently I have one dog, Cassis a Soft Coated Wheaton Terrior.
10. What does indie mean to you? You can give a literal definition, choose to be a little esoteric or a combination of both. 😉
Indie means fashion that starts at the street level, it is all about being local.
11. What are you reading, watching and listening to?
Eat, Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, Girl’s Next Door, Sirius Coffee House.
12. What’s one thing you’ve learned as an adult that you wish you knew when you were a kid?
Your never as young as you are right now.
13. What’s new? Any new plans or products that you want to share?
We currently sell our swimwear at 40 outlets across the U.S. including Hawaii and the Virgin Islands. I am hoping to grow this business, if anyone has any ideas for shops that my swimwear would sell at please drop me a line – I would appreciate it. Look for more new styles for 2009, I have a couple new one piece styles and tankini’s in production!
