Today we’d like to introduce you to Nina Salci.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Nina. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
It all started two years ago when I online shopping (yet again) for a new bikini for my winter break vacation. I was struggling to find a bikini that was amazing quality AND an amazing price and when I complained to my parents about it, my dad said, “well if you can’t find it then design it yourself.” That was when SevenSeas Swimwear was born. From there, it took me about a year of serious research, planning and designing to come up with a company that was true to who I was and what I was passionate about.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I wish it was a smooth road. But that wouldn’t be as fun ;). I have learned so much from owning my own business from the fun, the front end of my company such as designing, doing photoshoots and Instagram marketing to the not so many fun parts like submitting my taxes, and applying for an LLC. I would have to say one of the biggest challenges I currently face is communication. Because my swimwear is all handmade in Bali, often the women that I am in touch with over there do not speak English. On top of that, they are 12 hours time difference from us, so I am always doing my business between the hours of 9 pm-5 am. Yes, it can be exhausting. But fortunately, I have the greatest support system. My family, especially my mom always helps out when they can and my boyfriend Alex who is a photographer encourages me to constantly shoot new content and to keep growing and striving to make my company everything I have envisioned.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I am the owner and designer of SevenSeas Swimwear. I would have to say by far the COOLEST thing about my company is that all the bikinis are made from up-cycled fishing nets and discarded plastic bottles. I wanted to play my part as well as encourage other women to protect our Oceans and Marine life from dangerous plastics.
I wanted to share a bit about how my swimwear process works. So all of the sustainable fabrics that are used to make our bikinis come from Italy. They are then shipped off to Bali to get hand-sewn by a team of seamstresses that I hired when I traveled out there two years ago. This whole process takes about four months. Then they are shipped to Miami, my home base where I can now upload the bikinis to my website and share my designs with the world.
SevenSeas Swimwear currently has two collections available called the Bali Basics, and the Med Luxe. Each collection (styles, colors, patterns) that I design is inspired by a different tropical location around the world. The first one, of course, being Bali, then the 2nd was inspired by the Italian Riviera. There is currently a 3rd collection inspired by a place we are all familiar with…. is the works and will be available on Nov. 5th.
I wanted to turn my online retail shop into an interactive experience. It’s one thing to buy online, but its a whole other story when I get to personally meet a woman from around the world and get them a custom fit into their SevenSeas Bikinis. I have been doing pop-up shops every Saturday and Sunday on South beach on 14th st. and Ocean Drive from 10 am-6 pm.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
My definition of success for my company is knowing that I am doing everything in my power to make women feel maximum confidence in their SevenSeas Swimwear and knowing that each bikini purchase is a step to a plastic-free Ocean and healthy marine life.
I feel successful when I accomplish the goals or tasks that I have set for myself for the week, month or year. It could be something simple such as creating an Instagram Post but I do everything to the fullest of my ability and I get a great sense of accomplishment/success when I get to check a task off my to-do list.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sevenseasswimwear.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @sevenseasswimwear_
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sevenseasswimear/
Image Credit:
shot by Alex Franco
Instagram : @alxfranco_
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