A Deep Look Into Labour, Ethics and the Journey Behind Our Swimwear
Fashion at its best is both art and intention. As swimwear lovers, we care about how pieces feel, how they fit and how they empower us. Yet behind every garment there is a human story. For too long, that story has included unsafe working conditions, unlivable wages and the silent labour of women whose contributions often remain unseen.
When our founder set out to create this brand, she knew she wanted to offer beautiful swimwear without contributing to a broken system. Her journey took her around the world, from small coastal workshops to established ethical factories, meeting the people whose hands transform raw materials into fashion. She learned from artisans, toured production lines, and sat with managers, and pattern cutters to understand every step. Every decision was made with one question in mind: who and what is impacted?
The result is a brand built intentionally. A brand grounded in transparency, fairness and environmental responsibility. A brand that believes beauty should never compromise dignity.
Below, we explore the social and labour issues still facing the fashion industry today, and why our founder committed to doing things differently.
1. The Reality of Unsafe Workplaces
Many of the world’s garments are made in facilities where young women work grueling hours in conditions that put their health and safety at risk. Reports continue to highlight the prevalence of unsafe factories, where poor ventilation, verbal abuse and dangerous environments are common.
During her travels, our founder encountered factories at both ends of the spectrum. Some operated with international safety certifications and treated their teams with pride and respect. Others revealed the darker side of the industry. It became clear that choosing partners was not about price, but about principles. She returned home committed to working only with manufacturers who could demonstrate safe facilities, worker protections and genuine care for their teams.
2. The Global Problem of Unlivable Wages
Many garment workers are paid the legal minimum, yet the legal minimum is often far below the cost of living. The 2024 Ethical Fashion Report found that nearly 90 percent of brands do not pay a living wage at any stage of the supply chain.
The Fashion Transparency Index further showed that only 11 percent of brands even have a policy to pay suppliers within 60 days, which affects worker well-being.
Fair income is not a luxury. It is a basic human right. Our founder chose partners who provide wages above legal minimums and who demonstrate annual commitments to wage progression, overtime protections and worker support systems.
3. When Supply Chains Hide the Truth
One of fashion’s biggest issues is its fragmented supply chain. A single garment may pass through dozens of hands across multiple countries, making it difficult to track working conditions or environmental impact. The Ethical Fashion Report 2021 found that only 26 percent of brands had remediation processes in place when labour violations were identified.
This lack of transparency was something our founder saw firsthand. Many suppliers were unable to answer basic questions about their own upstream partners. Instead of accepting this silence, she spent years mapping materials, dye houses and mills to ensure every partner aligned with her values. From thread suppliers to elastic mills to dye technicians, she traced where everything came from and how it was made.
This careful vetting extended beyond production. Even our business cards, packaging and printed materials were selected from certified vendors committed to ethical sourcing.
4. Forced Labour and Child Labour Are Still Present
As confronting as it is, forced and child labour remain part of the global textile economy. Vogue Business reports that more than 160 million children aged five to seventeen are in child labour worldwide, with 3.3 million in forced labour.
The Walk Free Global Slavery Index also highlights how many women and girls endure coercion, debt bondage and unsafe working conditions in lower tiers of the supply chain.
These revelations shaped one of the core commitments of our brand: rigorous vetting and continuous monitoring of every partner. No exceptions. No excuses.
5. Overconsumption and Greenwashing
The fast fashion model depends on overproduction and encourages constant consumption. New arrivals arrive weekly. Prices remain artificially low. Meanwhile, many brands market themselves as sustainable without committing to meaningful change.
According to Vogue Business, most brands still fail to address modern slavery and worker exploitation risks, even when they promote sustainability on the surface.
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The Fashion Transparency Index 2023 echoes this pattern by highlighting how few brands uphold true accountability.
Our founder built the brand specifically to move in the opposite direction. Instead of chasing trends, she focused on longevity, thoughtful design and small production runs. Pieces made to last, not to end up discarded.
A Founder’s Promise
From the very beginning, every detail mattered. It was never about being perfect. It was about being honest, intentional and committed to doing better every day.
Today, each swimsuit reflects that journey. It represents the countless conversations, factory tours, research trips and late nights spent building a brand that truly cared. A brand that supports Water Is Life, honours workers and protects the planet.
The Future of Fashion Starts With Choice
Ethical production is not an abstract idea. It is a reality defined by the hands that sew, the communities that cultivate and the ecosystems that sustain us.
When you choose our swimwear, you choose fairness. You choose quality. You choose transparency. You choose pieces that make you feel beautiful without compromising on your values.
Explore our collection and discover swimwear created with intention, integrity and deep respect for both people and planet.
Because style is powerful. And when directed with purpose, it can reshape the world.
