Oct 8, 20203 min read

Swimming Fairly With Initial S

Paris

October 8,2020

We all agree that we want sustainability in our closet. Yes, it becomes easier to find clothes that are made in a sustainable way, and that also adds a good sense of style, but how about our swimsuits? Well, we have found a brand that will bring us confidence to swim while respecting the ecosystem.

The Designer

Behind Initial S is Melody Prieto, a 28-year-old French model and entrepreneur. After studying communication, she seized an opportunity. Dior, Calvin Klein, Balmain, Gucci, or Prada: in 6 years, she parades for the greatest designers and poses for many magazines such as Vogue, New York Times, W, and Love. Passionate about fashion and not finding what she was looking for in a swimsuit, Initial S was founded in 2019 in parallel with her modeling career with the desire to create the ideal swimwear wardrobe.

Initial S

The birth of Initial S is a desire to return to the roots, a desire to return to the origins of this piece that has become essential. A modern, timeless, and responsible brand for a quality beach wardrobe at a reasonable price. Initial S aims to capture the beauty and strength of the sea, sun, warm sand, and sky by creating a collection of swimsuits close to nature and the body. A clean, elegant line with a sensual and sporty look. The body is highlighted with all its small defects assumed and without artifice: its scars, its stretch marks, its skin texture, its forms.

Sustainability

Concerned about quality, the environment, and human conditions, Initial S turned to the French savoir-faire to meet its requirements. All swimsuits are made in France in a specialized workshop. Apart from the quality of French manufacturing, the proximity of the workshop allows a reduction of CO2 emissions and a better responsiveness of the teams between them.

Certified Oeko-tex, all fabrics are sourced in Italy with a sustainable perspective. These fabrics are made of high-quality fibers and for the most part, based on nylon fibers regenerated from plastic waste found at sea and on land such as fishing nets, carpets etc.

The 2020 summer collection is the first to be created. These are structured and clean jerseys that build this first collection. Neither frames nor frilly, it is a line with elegance and simplicity. In this first collection, the natural side is highly sought after. The sea, rocks, sand, and sun are omnipresent.

3 Minutes With Initial S

Can you introduce us to your brand?

I am the designer of initial s which is a swimwear brand made in France and eco-responsible. Almost all our swimsuits are made of recycled polyamide so 80% of the swimsuit, which allows it to dry very quickly too. Our fabrics are Italian certified Oeko-tex. They are then sent to our workshop in France next to Lyon to be put in pieces.

So everything is mostly done in France

Except for the fabric that is Italian, but otherwise everything is manufactured in France, produced in France. A woman runs the workshop and I am incredibly happy about it. It is genuinely nice to have reviews of the swimsuits from her every time; "I love the colors," "this shape is beautiful!"

We create one-pieces and two pieces that are mix and match, so we can buy the size we want, the bottom we want, the top we want, in the color we want. This allows everyone to adapt to their morphology. We make high panties, normal panties, thong, tanga. And on the top, we have the normal triangle, the headband, the bra, a little bit of everything to satisfy everyone.

Do you expect to stay on swimsuits, or you will develop your range with underwear bodysuit etc...?

Regarding underwear and bodies, not at all, that is not the principle at all. The principle of Initial S is to make a beach collection. Elegant very high-end while being responsible.

Okay, so maybe we can find some pareos?

(Laughs) maybe pareos, dresses, shirts, linen, cotton linen, per se, while keeping that ethical spirit. Looking for the most responsible materials you can use recycled Cotton, flax, because it does not specifically require pesticides, it can be easily produced in Europe, and it's a beautiful material.

What is the spirit of this new collection?

I was very inspired by the 80s and 90s. I love the pictures of supermodels in swimsuits at that time: Cindy Crawford, Naomie Campbell... We will say that the collection has a sporting touch, it remains sensual and elegant, I wanted something more solar in terms of colors, so we find orange, pink, and purple. It has a natural, simple side, sensuality so that all women find themselves there.