Super Sexy. Super Sustainable. A Chat with Vitamin A.
Amahlia Stevens, Founder of the most coveted swimwear brand, Vitamin A, sat down with SwimShow to chat all things sustainability, travel and what's new for Spring/Summer 2022 as we gear up for Swim Week in Miami, this July. The designer, whose roots come from Southern California, has traveled to beaches around the world and is constantly inspired by nature, our planet and developing new goals for her brand.
SS: The spring/summer season is just around the corner. What can shoppers look forward to from your brand as the weather warms?
VA: Texture, color, and sustainable innovation, including a new collection of plant-based swim, made from a patented plant-based compression fabric.
SS: While recent times have left people eager and ready to wear their favorite outfits and spend time outside with friends - what have you reflected on in the past year? How has it changed your outlook / philosophy from lifestyle to the design room?
VA: Less is more. Life is so precious and unpredictable that it caused me to pause and deepen my commitment to being part of the climate solution. This means focusing creative energy around utilizing resources in new ways, for example our upcoming “up-cycled bikini” capsule, which uses dead-stock recycled fabrics in our newest silhouettes.
SS: You might already know what our favorite city is....but why is yours Miami?! Kidding! Tell us a bit about your travel inspirations, favorite place on earth and a place you'd love to visit - but haven't yet.
VA: I spent a lot of time in Brazil, and have experienced some of the most pristine beaches of my life in that beautiful land. There’s one in Bahia, so magical that even I, the most fair-weather surfer, was able to surf and swim with the dolphins. It’s a time I will never forget. I’ve never been to Fernando de Noronha, Brazil, a unique ecological sanctuary, national marine park and UNESCO World Heritage Site. This place is high on my list.
SS: The swim and resort wear community have one thing in common - you design for people that like to enjoy life under the sun. Tell us about where you're from and if/how it influences your designs?
VA: I grew up on the beaches of Southern California, so a love of nature (and bikinis) has always been
in my DNA. Before launching Vitamin A, I was a creative consultant developing authentic California brand and product stories for friends in the surf, skate, and snowboard industries like Stüssy, DC Shoes, Levi Strauss and Co., and Patagonia. I was deeply inspired by Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard’s mission to create microfleece fibers from melted down plastic bottles, and I figured I could do something similar for swimwear. My passion for sustainable innovation and evolving fits has only grown. Researching and developing the first premium swim fabric made from recycled nylon, EcoLux, set Vitamin A apart as a brand committed to sustainability. With simple shapes, flawless fit, and a sunny natural sexiness, my design and brand ethos is inspired by 70’s California beach style and a mission to do better for our planet.
SS: We're all on instagram and tiktok and find that every day, you can come across dozens, if not hundreds, of new influencers. Who are some of your favorite social media influencers and why?
VA: I’m inspired by authentic voices that share multifaceted lives, particularly women with a sustainable point of view.
Leah Thomas @greengirlleah
Leah Bradley @Leahpatricia
ArizonaMuse @Arizona_Muse
Olesya Rulin @Olesyarulin
Andrea Hannemann @earthyandy
SS: Lastly, as brands continue to come together to make strides and be progressive - what brand values do you want to be known for? (Any nod to inclusivity, diversity, sustainability, etc.)
VA: We want to be known as the brand that brought sustainability to the swim industry, while creating a community of female allyship and inclusivity.
