Today we’d like to introduce you to Anna Newsome.
Anna, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My whole journey becoming a bikini designer began when I was at the ripe age of nine years young in a small town in Oklahoma. My grandmother Sara Jane (Blackwell, OK) taught me to sew and my Mimi (Fort Worth, TX) often put Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue magazines in my hands. It was a perfect combination of country bumpkin and city slicker glamour. With a wild imagination and the love of Devils Wears Prada, I began to sketch and sew my own creations and coordinating fashion shows around my pool in the 5th grade. As I grew, other priorities came up like boys, sports, and high school musicals…but on Christmas breaks I would always find myself locked away in my sewing closet sketching and finding new fabrics at the local hobby lobby. Fast forward to college. Making a decision to get out of Oklahoma was very natural. I always had a love for the beach, and it was “calling me” as Moana would sing. So, I packed my bags and all my designer bikinis I had collected during my landlocked years in Oklahoma and flew to a city I had never been to before. Fort Lauderdale, FL. I was hooked! I’ll never forget flying over the ocean to land in the cutest beach town that I still call home.
There I studied fashion Design at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale. School was never my thing and honestly computer classes might have been the reason I dropped out after a year and a half. After leaving school, I got a job as a gymnastics coach in Boca and found a mentor that was a seamstress, pattern/sample maker master. I spent a full summer with her. She was a wonderful Peruvian woman who taught me just about everything. Together we made my first translucent vinyl accented flagship swimsuit, the Zenon. I posted the photos of the Zenon on Instagram and two Miami Swim Week shows called wanting me to show a capsule! I was stoked! I remember saying to them “but I only have one bikini” and they responded, “well make six more”. BOOM! A few weeks later, I was at the SLS South Beach showing my seven designs. I must say I have been chasing the high ever since. Now here I am..with an amazing brand and an awesome team behind me. So much more could be said on how Akosha was built. But all that matters is that I am the happiest most passionate person that may ever lay hands on a bikini that I made for you.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Starting a brand on my own at 22 has had its challenges. Now at 25 years old, I feel I have it whipped. But at times, it still feels as if there are learning curves. My main issue was always getting my bikinis made. I would make an amazing design then would be asked to have a pop-up shop, fashion show, or to hold my pieces in a boutique. Then, I would be in tears and always felt like I was missing opportunities because I never had enough inventory OR the right team to make my inventory. Akosha’s designs are very complex to make. I had to acquire a teammate that wanted to drink the Akosha juice and really believe in my designs. To sit down at the sewing machine, be an architect and make the most perfect sample. Not many people are open to thinking outside of the box, but I found my person. His hands brought my sketches to life! He and I have cried and bled and most importantly smiled with every collection created. We call it making a baby. It’s so wild because it’s just a bikini. The craftsmanship and love of every detail is what makes Akosha and what also made it so difficult to want to have anyone lay their hands on an Akosha project.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Akosha Swim – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
Akosha is a luxury bikini brand. I have the duties of dreaming up the designs, sketching the designs, finding the fabrics, cutting the fabrics, sample reviews, photographing models, Instagrammer, fashion show coordinator, shipper outter, and sometimes label sewer. Akosha is mostly known for our translucent vinyl illusion pieces. These designs without a doubt have never been done before. Saying that with confidence is what I am most proud of.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Akosha’s future is very bright! We are expanding every day to awesome new boutiques in the United States and Mexico. We are making several different themes of lines for 2021. To be exact: Bridal, Exotic, Pool Party and French, We also started a new branch called the “The Bikini Dealer” where we consult for other brands and startups. I am most excited about a very fun collaboration with music chick @MADDS. I guess you could say Our hands are always busy creating and our minds are always racing with the next big thing!
Pricing:
- Basic Bikini set: $144
- Miami Native set:$204
- Specialty set/custom:$200-$300
Contact Info:
- Website: akoshaswimwear.com
- Phone: 580-262-3036
- Email: annaakoshaswim@gmail.com; sales@akoshaswimwear.com
- Instagram: @akoshaswim
Image Credit:
Photographer; Anna Newsome
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