Today we’d like to introduce you to Valeria Vasquez.
Hi Valeria, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Well, Malecon was an idea that I had years ago and didn’t start working on until earlier this year when I brought it up to my aunt. She was just as excited about the project as I was, so we decided to go in it together. We came up with Malecon because it means boardwalk in Spanish and we thought it was the perfect name because growing up, we spent most summers on a beach in Peru and the main meet up point and hangout spot was well you guessed it the Malecon. It’s been kind of crazy trying to figure out the business side of things alongside with designing and creating something from scratch. Honestly, this process has taught me a lot and I feel that in just a few months, I have learned so many things that I will be applying to our future launches. This concept was started in February of this year and it wasn’t until late October that we just got our first shipment so safe to say it’s taken a little while to get here but I’m so excited for this journey and I’m so excited to finally get to launch the bikinis we’ve been working on.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been smooth sailing whatsoever; our first struggle was trying to find a manufacturer and somebody that would be able to create our vision from start to finish. We also went through quite a few samples trying to perfect the fit because the material we chose is not your standard bikini material. The fabric we chose is so soft and so stretchy that sizing the pieces was extremely difficult and costly to perfect.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Malecon Swimwear?
We are a small swimwear business, but we don’t want to be just one more in the saturated market that is this industry. Our designs are so flattering on all body types and so extremely comfortable, I wanted to make sure that anything we create is something that I would personally spend my hard-earned money on. I’m so proud of how far we have come and I’m so excited for what the future has in store and the visions that I have for this brand.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
I once heard that you are a direct reflection of the five people that you spend the most time with and I have to say that is 100% true. I wouldn’t have gotten this far if it wasn’t for Malecon swimwear’s co-owner and my aunt. She did a lot of the boots on the ground searching when it came to the fabrics and finding a manufacturer so we really wouldn’t have made it to this point if it wasn’t for her. I am also so blessed to be able to say that I have the most supportive parents, boyfriend, and close group of friends that have believed in this project since the very beginning. I recently had a major loss in my life, I lost my best friend in August and ever since then, there has been an even bigger fire lit under me because I was reminded how short life is and that you can’t take any single day for granted. She was an amazing woman and although I wish she was here today, I am greatly motivated by her memory and her relentless spirit. Hopefully, one day I’ll be able to show her little girl that it can be done and that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to. No goal or dream is unachievable.
Pricing:
- Our pieces are priced at $45.00
Contact Info:
- Email: support@maleconswimwear.com
- Website: Maleconswimwear.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maleconswimwear/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MaleconSwimwear
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/SwimwearMalecon
