From Factory to you

​Welcome to Corallina Swim's first ever blog. If you’re reading this then you must be just as excited about the launch of our swimwear as I am! Don’t worry, there’s not much longer to wait…
My name is Cara Brown and I’m the owner and designer of Corallina Swim. I looooveeee bikinis (and dogs) so I decided to start a swimwear company that I had everything I was looking for. I got so fed up of buying bikinis for ridiculous prices and then having to pay the same price for shipping so I wanted to find out if I could do it cheaper, whilst still creating a product that is high quality, comfortable and pretty. Turns out, it is possible!
I started sketching a few of my ideas in summer 2017 and then, through the wonders of the internet, found the very talanted Geetanjali (@geetanjali.b) who took my sketches and drew them up online so producers could see the designs. She also transformed my prints from drawings on paper into fun and bright designs that could be printed.
I spent a long time choosing the right fabric for my swimwear. It had to be able to stand up to the elements and not stretch or lose its colour. I found the perfect fit in Italy with Jersey Lomellina, who create a high quality fabric which has an extra soft feel to it which makes it stand apart from other fabrics.
Finding my production factory was the hardest job, it took me about 6 months of searching. I looked close to home, in Europe. Starting in the UK and then moving my way to eastern Europe and then I finally found a factory just half an hour from my home in Italy! They understood my product and saw my vision.
For a while it all seemed smooth sailing… I had received my first prototypes and the swatches of my prints. I had even found another factory to produce the unique plaits you can find on Corallina bikinis. And then, disaster struck. My fabric printing factory was shutting down! Right in the middle of my production which meant I had to find another factory… ASAP! Luckily, I had another factory in mind and they were very happy to pick up my production and the show was on the road again.
The last 12 months have been the biggest learning curve of my life. I came out of school with no degree in art or design. I had chosen to focus on science and languages and I never imagined that one day I would be starting my own swimwear line. I spent hours and hours researching online to find the right people to bring my ideas to life. The most important thing I learnt is that when you don’t know, really just ask! The world is full of people with the most amazing knowledge to share.
I hope that giving you an insight to my Corallina world has made you excited to see my bikini collection. If you would like to follow the bikinis as they go from sketches to being on all you gorgeous girls then check out my Instagram, twitter and Facebook page: @CorallinaSwim
Until next time! xxx

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